Maritime Rescue intercepted a cayuco carrying 61 migrants near the south coast of Tenerife on Sunday afternoon, after it was spotted by a ferry, as reported by the Emergency Services Coordination Centre (CECOES).
The cayuco was first sighted at 4:35pm by the crew of the Benchijigua Express Fred Olsen ferry, located 13 miles off the coast of Los Cristianos. The ferry’s crew immediately alerted the Maritime Rescue Centre in Tenerife, to report the presence of a migrant vessel.
Shortly after, the ferry Volcán de Teno, which was sailing in the opposite direction, diverted its course to confirm the sighting. The ferry located the cayuco and followed it until the arrival of the Salvamar Alpheratz rescue boat, which reached the migrants at 5:25pm.
At that point, the ferry was cleared to continue its route, while Maritime Rescue escorted the cayuco and its occupants to Los Cristianos port.
Medical Assistance and Hospital Transfers
Upon arrival at the port, a medical response team, including personnel from the Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC), Primary Care, and the Red Cross, tended to the migrants. Three of them required further medical attention and were taken to hospital for treatment.
This rescue is part of an ongoing effort by Spanish authorities to manage the rising number of migrant arrivals by sea to the Canary Islands, a common entry point for those attempting to reach Europe from Africa.
