Spanish authorities are continuing their search for 48 migrants who were aboard a boat that capsized near the Canary Islands on September 29, 2024. The incident has already resulted in the deaths of nine individuals, including eight adults and one child, marking it as potentially the deadliest migrant crossing in the last 30 years.
The boat, which was carrying 84 migrants, overturned in waters near El Hierro island. Rescuers managed to save 27 individuals, but hopes of finding more survivors are dwindling. A spokeswoman for the Canary Islands government stated, "Unfortunately we presume the worst. The search goes on but it seems that the chances of finding someone alive are slim."
The migrants, who are believed to be from Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal, had set off from Nouadhibou in Mauritania, approximately 800 kilometers (nearly 500 miles) from Spain. Reports indicate that the boat had been at sea for two days without food or water before the authorities were alerted. When rescuers arrived, the boat capsized after those on board rushed to one side.
Regional president Fernando Clavijo expressed concern that more bodies may surface in the coming days due to ocean currents. The number of migrants attempting to cross from West Africa to the Canary Islands has surged by 154% from January to July 2024, according to data from the European Union's border agency Frontex, while crossings in other Mediterranean routes have decreased.