1,900 people have died in 2025 crossing the Atlantic to the Canary Islands
The number of people trying to reach the Canary Islands by boat has dropped sharply this year, but the Atlantic Route remains the most dangerous migrant sea crossing in the world. A new report from the NGO, Caminando Fronteras, reveals that 1,906 people died or disappeared in 2025 while attempting the journey from West Africa to the islands in small, fragile boats.
Although fewer boats set off compared with last year, the Atlantic Route continues to claim more lives than the Mediterranean Route towards mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands. This is largely because the boats heading for the Canaries, known as cayucos, carry far more people, meaning any accident results in a higher number of casualties.
In total, the NGO estimates that 3,090 people died in 2025 while trying to reach Spain by sea, a significant drop from more than 10,000 deaths the previous year. Official figures from Spain’s Ministry of Interior show that irregular sea arrivals fell by 40.4% nationwide, and by 59.9% in the Canary Islands.
Of those who lost their lives, 192 were women and 437 were children. Caminando Fronteras recorded 303 separate tragedies. While more boats attempted the Mediterranean route to Ibiza and Formentera, the Atlantic crossing remained far deadlier due to the longer distances and more dangerous sea conditions involved.
The organisation also warned of a new route emerging from Guinea Conakry, even farther away and considered extremely dangerous. Earlier in the year, most boats involved in fatal incidents had left from Mauritania. More recently, however, the tragedies have come from boats departing Senegal, Gambia, and Guinea Conakry.
Meanwhile, Maritime Rescue confirmed that 33 people (26 men, three women, and four children) were safely brought ashore on Monday morning after their cayuco was found close to the coast of Tenerife. They landed in the port of Los Cristianos safely and in good health.
Share:
