Record 1,488 migrants rescued in one day off Spain's Canary Islands

Spain's coast guard rescued 1,488 people from 14 boats off the Canary Islands in a single day, a new daily record. The EFE news agency and the maritime rescue service reported the figure, citing Reuters. The previous record of 1,461 people was set on November 7, 2020, in the same waters.

One of the boats that arrived on Saturday carried 240 people, including 12 women and 36 children, the authorities said. Those rescued were taken to El Hierro, one of the smallest islands in the archipelago. Most of the arrivals come from Senegal, Gambia and Guinea-Conakry.

Although fewer migrants have arrived since the start of the year than over the same period last year, last month's sharp rise has put even more strain on reception and rescue services on several islands, above all the small and sparsely populated ones.

The Atlantic route from West Africa to the Canaries is one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world. Arrivals usually climb in autumn, when the sea is calmer and the crossing easier. According to the agency, the wave of arrivals from West African countries has intensified since October. On Sunday, Spain's minister for territorial policy will travel to El Hierro to discuss the sharp increase in the number of migrants.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz