2025 has begun with heartbreak on the Canary Islands migration route, as two people lost their lives in the first boat of the year to arrive in the islands, with preliminary reports suggesting that one of the victims was a minor.
The first migrant boat of the year arrived on New Years Day in Las Galletas, in southern Tenerife, carrying 141 people. Among them were the two deceased. The makeshift vessel managed to reach the coast unaided, but two survivors required hospital treatment for various medical conditions.
Later the same day, a second boat was intercepted by Maritime Rescue and escorted to La Restinga harbour in El Hierro. This vessel was carrying 70 passengers, including 11 women.
The Guardia Civil was seen inspecting the fragile boat as it was removed from the beach where it had run aground. Authorities had been alerted to its presence by radar signals picked up by the Integrated External Surveillance System (SIVE), which detected it about four miles south of La Restinga.
2024 Sets Record for Migration to the Canary Islands
The year 2024 has become a landmark in migration to Spain, particularly to the Canary Islands, which saw a record number of arrivals. According to figures from the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, 60,216 migrants arrived in the country through irregular means between January 1st and December 15th, marking a 14.5% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
Of these, an unprecedented 43,737 migrants reached the Canary Islands, surpassing the previous year’s figure of 39,910 and the 2006 record during the so-called "Crisis of the Cayucos," when 31,678 arrivals were recorded.
