Emergency teams from the Government of the Canary Islands, Maritime Rescue, Civil Guard, and Red Cross have resumed their search for the bodies of the nearly 50 missing individuals who were left after a shipwreck off the coast of El Hierro island. Only one of the five migrants hospitalized remains in the hospital on Sunday. Authorities have almost completely ruled out the possibility of finding any survivors, as stated on Saturday by the Government Delegate in the Canary Islands, Anselmo Pestana, and the President of the regional government, Fernando Clavijo. It is likely that in the next two or three days, more bodies will begin to appear, especially in the east of the island due to currents.
Salvamento Marítimo spokesperson has reported that three aerial units (from Salvamento Marítimo, Civil Guard, and Government of the Canary Islands) and three maritime units (the Guardamar Calíope from Salvamento Marítimo, the patrol boat Río Guadiato from the Civil Guard, and a boat from the Red Cross) are participating in the search. One boat is patrolling around the island, while the rest of the units are concentrated in the area where the shipwreck occurred. At around 2 a.m. on Saturday, a canoe carrying between 84 and 90 people, according to survivor testimonies, capsized just seven kilometers from the coast when the Guardamar Calíope had already begun rescue operations. Several migrants have told rescuers that upon spotting the boat, many passengers gathered on one side of the boat, causing it to destabilize and overturn.
The Salvamar Adhara went to the rescue area and managed to rescue 27 people alive—including four minors—and recover the bodies of nine deceased individuals from the water, including that of a child, according to the 112 emergency services. Five passengers were hospitalized with severe hypothermia, four of whom have already been discharged. The occupants of the boat had departed from Mauritania six days prior and had spent the last two days of the journey without water or food, as explained by Anselmo Pestana. This shipwreck occurs at a time of extreme political tension regarding migration management. The Canary Islands’ president has increased his demands in the past month against the central government to achieve the mandatory transfer of the nearly 5,500 migrant minors under the guardianship of the archipelago and has repeatedly called for greater involvement from the State and the European Union.
Government of Canarias relief teams resumed, Maritime Rescue,. Civil Guard and Red Cross are working to find bodies of fifty people missing following a shipwreck off the coast of El Hierro. Only one of five hospitalized migrants remains in the hospital, according to the latest reports. Officials believe finding survivors is highly unlikely; both government delegate Anselmo Pestana and regional president Fernando Clavijo emphasized this in their comments to the media on Saturday. Pestana added that due to currents, more bodies may start washing up on the east side of the island in the next two to three days. Multiple air and maritime units are involved in the search efforts, focusing on the area where the shipwreck occurred after a canoe carrying 84-90 people capsized close to shore.
A canoe carrying 84-90 people capsized close to the coast of El Hierro on Saturday, prompting a rescue operation by the Guardamar Calíope. Survivors reported that passengers crowded to one side of the boat upon spotting the rescue vessel, causing it to capsize. The Salvamar Adhara managed to rescue 27 individuals, including four minors, while recovering the bodies of nine deceased individuals from the water. Five passengers were hospitalized with severe hypothermia, with four having been discharged already. The boat had departed from Mauritania six days prior, with the last two days of the journey being without water or food. This tragic incident occurs at a time of heightened political tension over migration management in the region, with the Canary Islands’ president advocating for increased support from the national government and the European Union to address the issue.
The timely response of emergency teams from the Government of the Canary Islands, Maritime Rescue, Civil Guard, and Red Cross has been crucial in the search and rescue operation following a tragic shipwreck near El Hierro. Despite the challenging conditions, efforts to locate the missing individuals and provide medical assistance to survivors continue. The involvement of various aerial and maritime units highlights the coordinated approach taken to address the aftermath of the incident. With the likelihood of additional bodies being discovered in the coming days due to currents, the focus remains on locating and retrieving all those affected by the tragedy. The commitment of the emergency teams underscores the dedication to ensuring the safety and well-being of those impacted by the shipwreck.
The significant humanitarian impact of the shipwreck underscores the urgent need for improved migration management policies and greater cooperation at the regional, national, and international levels. The tragic loss of lives in this incident emphasizes the importance of proactive measures to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future. The role of the Canary Islands’ leadership in advocating for increased support and resources to address migration challenges reflects the complex nature of migration dynamics in the region. As efforts continue to recover the bodies of the missing individuals and provide assistance to survivors, the importance of maintaining a coordinated response to such emergencies is evident. The tragic shipwreck near El Hierro serves as a somber reminder of the risks and challenges faced by migrants seeking a better life, highlighting the need for comprehensive and compassionate approaches to migration management.
