The Spanish coast guard has successfully rescued 86 individuals from a boat that went missing at sea over a week ago, in a search operation for migrants.
The vessel, carrying people from sub-Saharan Africa, was located approximately 70 nautical miles (130km) southwest of the Canary Islands. The rescue was made possible with the assistance of another nearby boat.
However, two similar boats carrying dozens more people remain missing, and there are limited details available about them.
According to Walking Borders, a migrant aid group, one of the boats was estimated to have approximately 65 people on board, while the other had up to 60.
These boats are believed to have departed from Senegal on June 23, four days prior to the larger vessel.
The larger vessel, which departed from Kafountine, Senegal on June 27, was estimated to be carrying 200 individuals, including many children, according to earlier reports from Walking Borders.
The coast guard vessel and the container ship that provided assistance are currently en route to Gran Canaria island. The exact number of individuals rescued from the larger vessel remains unclear, but the group includes 80 men and six women.
This news follows a recent tragic incident in which an overcrowded trawler sank off the Greek coast, resulting in one of the worst Mediterranean migrant shipwrecks. At least 78 deaths have been confirmed, with the United Nations reporting that up to 500 individuals may still be missing.
The journey from West Africa to the Canary Islands is known to be one of the most perilous routes for migrants. Typically, they undertake the voyage in traditional fishing boats that are vulnerable to the strong Atlantic currents.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 559 individuals lost their lives at sea while attempting to reach the Spanish islands last year. The death toll for 2021 rose to 1,126. However, due to limited information on departures from West Africa and underreported shipwrecks, the actual figures are likely higher.
Migrants embarking on this route often originate from countries such as Morocco, Mali, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and other sub-Saharan nations.
In 2022, Spain’s interior ministry recorded 15,682 unauthorized arrivals in the Canary Islands, representing a decrease of over 30% compared to the previous year.