Migrants have been arriving on Spain’s Canary Islands at a staggering pace in recent days. While most were rescued at sea, some actually managed to arrive on the archipelago of their own accord.
Around 25 people -- including several babies -- are feared dead after their boat capsized in the Atlantic Ocean off Spain's Canary Islands on Monday. The Spanish coast guard rescued 36 people from the stricken dinghy.
Spanish rescuers on the Canary Islands have rescued more than 370 migrants who were trying to reach the archipelago from western Africa. An increasing number of arrivals to the Canaries come from Morocco, whose authorities picked up more than 160 migrants in several different rescues.
Two more migrants have died trying to reach Spain's Canary Islands on a boat carrying 30 people, news reports confirmed Thursday. This is the third deadly incident off the Canary Islands since Sunday, bringing the number of confirmed deaths up to 13.
The Spanish coast guard rescued more than 220 people travelling in small boats off the Canary Islands on Wednesday. The number of migrants risking the Atlantic route is rising again, and so are the deaths.
At least five people reportedly died en route to Spain's Canary Islands on a boat carrying 48 migrants. Police are investigating whether four people were thrown overboard during the voyage.
In a year that saw over 20,000 migrants arrive on the Canary Islands, Spain's maritime rescue service Salvamento Marítimo saved more than 650 migrant boats. InfoMigrants spoke with the agency about its strategy for responding to distress calls, coordination with Morocco and what we can expect this year.