Spanish rescuers are conducting a search operation in the waters off the Canary Islands for a boat carrying at least 200 African migrants that went missing over a week ago. The boat, which departed from Kafountine in southern Senegal, was headed towards Tenerife, approximately 1,700 kilometers (1,057 miles) away. Aid group Walking Borders has reported that the boat is carrying numerous children. Additionally, two other boats with dozens of individuals onboard are also believed to be missing.
Spain’s maritime rescue service has deployed a plane to aid in the search efforts. While limited information is available regarding the other two boats, Walking Borders spokesperson Helena Maleno stated that one boat is carrying around 65 people and the other up to 60, potentially bringing the total number of missing individuals across all three boats to over 300.
This incident follows a recent major shipwreck in the Mediterranean, where an overcrowded trawler sank off the Greek coast. While at least 78 deaths have been confirmed, the United Nations (UN) reported that up to 500 individuals remain missing.
The journey from West Africa to the Canary Islands is known as one of the most perilous routes for migrants, particularly because they often travel in simple fishing boats that are susceptible to powerful Atlantic currents. In 2021, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported that at least 559 people died while attempting to reach the Spanish islands, and the death toll for 2022 has already reached 1,126.
The IOM notes that information regarding departures from West Africa is limited, and many shipwrecks go unreported. Migrants embarking on this dangerous journey often originate from countries such as Morocco, Mali, Senegal, the Ivory Coast, or other sub-Saharan nations.
While there has been a decrease of over 30% in unauthorized arrivals in the Canary Islands in 2022 compared to the previous year, the IOM highlights that the number of individuals taking this perilous route remains high in recent years.