Seven dead and baby missing after migrant boat capsizes near La Restinga port
At least seven people have died and a baby is missing after a migrant boat capsized just before docking at La Restinga port in El Hierro, on Wednesday morning.
The boat, which had reportedly come from Senegal with around 180 people on board, tipped over when several occupants stood up and tried to jump off before it had properly stopped and docked.
Among those who died are four women and three girls, aged between four and sixteen, and a baby is still missing. Emergency services say many of the occupants were trapped underneath the boat when it flipped.
Two others, a man and a woman, are in a critical condition in hospital. A medical helicopter was brought in to help transfer the most seriously hurt, and a young girl was also treated at the dock for serious injuries.
News report from RTVC showing the emergency services helping the migrants from the water.
Local fishermen and staff from a nearby dive school helped rescuers pull people from the water, and teams from the coastguard, police, and Red Cross are continuing search efforts.
Anselmo Pestana, the Spanish government’s representative in the Canary Islands, said the people on board had been through a long and exhausting journey across rough seas, and many didn’t have the strength to react when the boat overturned.
Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo, who was already visiting the island, travelled to the port to see the situation for himself. He said, “You feel completely helpless. My thoughts are with the rescue teams and medical staff doing everything they can.”
This happened shortly before Spain’s Minister for Youth and Children, Sira Rego, was due to visit the island. She’s planning to meet with local organisations to talk about how centres for young migrants are being run. Her visit will continue in Gran Canaria tomorrow.
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