In the last days of the year, a continuous stream of small boats known as cayucos is attempting to reach the Canary Islands. According to sources from Salvamento Marítimo, seven new boats have been assisted in the past hours. The focus has shifted from the island of El Hierro to Lanzarote, where five of the boats have arrived. The first four boats were carrying around 240 people each, while the fifth boat had 28 men, one woman, and a child. Two more cayucos were accompanied to the port of La Restinga (El Hierro) by the rescue boats Acrux and Adhara. The first boat carried 69 people, including a woman, and the count for the second boat is still pending. These new operations bring the total number of migrants landed since Christmas Eve to 1,300. By December 15th, 43,737 people had arrived at the islands, an 18.6% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Unfortunately, one person who arrived on El Hierro on Friday died shortly after on the helicopter transporting him to the airport.
During the early hours, the Las Palmas center received multiple reports of boats adrift, prompting the activation of the Guardamar Calíope. This vessel intercepted the first four boats during the night. At 9:20 in the morning, the passenger ship Amadea reported an inflatable boat in distress with 30 occupants signaling for help about 44 kilometers from Lanzarote. The Amadeo remained with the boat until the Salvamar Al Nair arrived around 10:55. The migration pressure then shifted back to the small island of El Hierro. The Guardia Civil reported two more cayucos, and the salvage boats Acrux and Adhara accompanied them to port. The first boat carried 69 people, including a woman, but no official count has been made for the second boat.
The Canary Islands migration route has been experiencing tragic days recently. On Christmas Day, around 515 people arrived on the islands, as reported by Salvamento Marítimo. The following Thursday saw seven rescue operations for migrants with almost 400 occupants in total. Friday ended with over 200 people rescued from six drifting boats. One of these boats, carrying 55 people, had five migrants in very serious condition who were airlifted to the island’s airport. Unfortunately, one man died upon arrival, and the other four were admitted to the hospital in critical condition. During the night, three more men were evacuated to the hospital.
Adding to the tragedy, the Malian Government confirmed on Friday that on December 19, a boat carrying 80 people bound for the Canary Islands sank in Moroccan waters, with only 11 survivors. The Malian authorities revealed that 25 of the deceased and nine of the survivors were Malian nationals. This serves as a grim reminder of the dangers faced by migrants attempting to reach the Canary Islands through perilous sea journeys. The search and rescue efforts continue as Salvamento Marítimo and other agencies work tirelessly to assist those in distress at sea and prevent further loss of life. The situation highlights the urgent need for comprehensive and humane solutions to address the root causes of migration and provide safer alternatives for those seeking refuge or a better life.
