125 people rescued from dinghy off Lanzarote coast

Spanish maritime rescue crews rescued 125 people from an overloaded inflatable boat off Lanzarote last night (Wednesday) after receiving a distress call reporting that water was entering the vessel.

The rescue took place just before 11:00pm, in international waters approximately 58 nautical miles north-east of Lanzarote, according to the Canary Islands’ 112 emergency coordination centre and Spain’s maritime rescue service, Salvamento Marítimo.

On board were 99 men, four women and 22 people under the age of 18. Those calling for help said the boat was taking on water and struggling to navigate.

Two rescue vessels, the Salvamar Acrux and Salvamar Al Nair, were sent. Several merchant ships travelling through the area also helped with the search.

The rescued passengers were taken to Puerto Naos in Arrecife, where Red Cross teams provided assistance.

Reports describe the dinghy as the most overcrowded inflatable boat recorded on the Canary Islands migration route. Earlier this summer, other inflatable boats carrying more than 100 people reached Lanzarote.

Overcrowding adds to the dangers of the crossing, particularly when boats begin taking on water or encounter difficulties at sea.

A separate rescue operation was also under way involving another boat believed to be carrying around 90 people. It was expected to reach Lanzarote at approximately 4:00pm today (Thursday), although the number on board remained provisional pending completion of the rescue.

According to the report, those rescued are taken to a temporary reception centre after receiving assistance, where they remain under National Police supervision during the first 72 hours. They are subsequently transferred to reception centres in Tenerife and Gran Canaria.