More than 30 migrants are feared to have drowned after a boat carrying approximately 60 people sank in the Atlantic Ocean off the Canary Islands, according to reports from humanitarian organizations Walking Borders and Alarm Phone. The incident has once again put Europe’s response to migration under scrutiny, coming just days after another boat sank off the coast of Greece.
Rescue workers from the Spanish authorities discovered the bodies of a minor and a man, and managed to rescue 24 survivors. However, the exact number of people on board the ill-fated vessel remains unknown. Walking Borders’ Helena Maleno Garzon stated that 39 individuals, including four women and a baby, had drowned, while Alarm Phone reported that 35 people were missing. Both organizations monitor migrant boats and provide assistance to those on board or their relatives.
The tragic sinking occurred approximately 100 miles (160km) southeast of Gran Canaria on Wednesday. The delay in rescue efforts has drawn criticism, with Garzon describing the situation as “torture” for the vulnerable passengers who had been waiting for over 12 hours on a flimsy inflatable boat that was at risk of sinking.
According to Reuters, a Spanish rescue service ship, the Guardamar Caliope, was within an hour’s sail from the distressed dinghy on Tuesday evening. However, the ship did not intervene as the operation had been handed over to Moroccan officials. A Moroccan patrol boat eventually arrived on the scene on Wednesday morning, approximately 10 hours after a Spanish rescue plane had first spotted the migrant boat.
The tragedy has prompted calls for action and solidarity from leaders and activists. Angel Victor Torres, the leader of the Canary Islands region, referred to the incident as a “tragedy” and urged the European Union to establish a comprehensive migration policy that provides coordinated and supportive responses. The Canary Islands, although geographically located off Africa’s western coast, are part of Spain and often serve as a destination for migrants attempting to reach mainland Europe.
The Western Africa-Atlantic migration route is widely regarded as one of the deadliest in the world. In 2022 alone, the UN’s International Organization for Migration reported at least 543 deaths or disappearances of migrants along this route. The actual figure is believed to be higher due to limited and incomplete data. Most migrants embarking on this perilous journey originate from countries such as Morocco, Mali, Senegal, and Cote d’Ivoire.
In addition to this tragedy, Spanish authorities recently conducted successful rescue operations, saving over 160 individuals from three other boats near the islands of Lanzarote and Gran Canaria.
The sinking near the Canary Islands follows the recent devastating incident off the Greek coast, where a migrant boat carrying hundreds of people sank, resulting in numerous deaths and a significant number of individuals still missing. The Greek coastguard’s account of the event has been called into question, with evidence emerging that challenges their initial claims about the boat’s course and the necessity of a rescue operation. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges and humanitarian crises arising from migration across Europe.
