The number of boats crossing the so-called ‘Canary route’ of migration from West Africa to the Canary Islands has taken an upturn this week with twelve boats intercepted in the last five days and a total of 621 people rescued. However, tragedy struck once again with 19 people killed on Wednesday.
Maritime Rescue retrieved 39 men of sub-Saharan origin in a pneumatic boat yesterday (Friday), who had travelled from the coast of El Aaiún (Sahara) and received the help of the Salvamar Al Nair rescue boat when they were some 50 kilometres south of the town of Morro Jable in Fuerteventura.
The arrival of irregular immigrants by boat to the Canary Islands has dropped by 62% so far this year compared to 2022, with 2,376 people rescued in the water around the islands in 2023, and 3,983 in the same period last year, according to data from the Ministry del Interior on April 15th.
However, in the last week there has been a striking upturn, with twelve boats in five days (six to Lanzarote, three to Gran Canaria, and three to Fuerteventura).
In addition to the 621 people who were on board these boats are added the 61 who were shipwrecked in Moroccan waters on Wednesday heading to Lanzarote, in a tragedy that cost the lives of 19 people, as reported by the group Caminando Fronteras.
