Migrant arrivals to the Canary Islands have seen a sharp increase in the past 15 days, with 4,050 people reaching the islands in small boats from West Africa. This follows a slowdown in early September when 1,234 migrants arrived, and a record-breaking summer that saw 6,267 arrivals in July and August.
The data, provided by the Ministry of the Interior, shows that a total of 5,284 migrants reached the islands in September alone, though the record for the highest monthly arrivals this year remains in January.
Since the beginning of 2024, 30,808 migrants have arrived in the Canary Islands, nearly double the 14,976 who arrived in the same period in 2023. The Canary Islands remain one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world, and this rise in arrivals coincides with a tragic event last Saturday when a boat capsized near the island of El Hierro, leaving 54 people missing and nine bodies recovered.
This recent surge pushes the total for 2024 close to the record set in 2023 when 39,910 migrants arrived. The Canary Islands’ President, Fernando Clavijo, warned that if the current trend continues, the number of arrivals could surpass 50,000 by the end of the year, breaking all previous records.
On a national scale, 42,231 migrants have entered Spain irregularly so far in 2024, marking a 60% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Most arrivals (40,076) occurred via sea, with migrants using precarious boats. However, arrivals to mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands have decreased slightly, with 9,224 arriving by sea this year compared to 10,487 last year.
The increasing pressure on the Canary Islands has led regional authorities to call for international assistance from organizations like UNHCR and UNICEF to help manage the growing number of arrivals.
