Over 100 migrants, including 20 babies, rescued near El Hierro
A migrant boat carrying more than 100 people, including 20 babies, has been rescued south of El Hierro after issuing a distress call on Monday afternoon. Maritime Rescue confirmed that 110 people were onboard the cayuco when it was located around 34 nautical miles south of the island.
The emergency call was made at approximately 4:25pm from the vessel itself and was picked up by an antenna in the village of San Andrés, in El Hierro.
Major Rescue Operation
The rescue was coordinated by Centro de Coordinación de Salvamento Tenerife (CCS Tenerife), who dispatched the vessel Salvamar Diphda to the location given, supported by the helicopter Helimer 205 and the rescue boat Salvamar Menkalinan.
All 110 passengers, including the 20 infants, were safely recovered and transported to shore, where they were met by Red Cross and medical teams.
Ongoing Migration Pressure
The latest arrival comes amid continued pressure on the Canary Islands as a primary Atlantic migration route from West Africa.
Regional authorities have recently expressed concern over the impact of the European Union’s new Migration and Asylum Pact, warning that the islands must not become “a large retention centre” for migrants arriving by sea.
The Canary Islands remain one of Europe’s main entry points for irregular migration via the Atlantic route, with rescue services responding to frequent distress calls in waters surrounding the archipelago.
Further details on the condition and nationalities of those rescued have not yet been released.
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