SPAIN: A fishing boat carrying around 200 people, reportedly departed from Kafountine in southern Senegal, is missing off the coast of the Canary Islands. The humanitarian organization Walking Borders has highlighted the presence of numerous children on board. Two other similar boats carrying additional individuals are also reported missing. On June 27, a boat carrying approximately 200 people left Kafountine bound for the Canary Islands.
The Spanish maritime rescue department, along with a plane, has been deployed for search and rescue operations. The whereabouts of the other two boats, carrying around 65 and 60 people respectively, remain unknown. The total number of individuals missing is close to 300.
This news comes shortly after one of the deadliest migrant tragedies in the Mediterranean, where a vessel carrying an excessive number of people capsized off the coast of Greece. The UN estimates that up to 500 people are still missing, with at least 78 confirmed drownings.
The journey from West Africa to the Canary Islands is considered one of the most perilous routes for migrants, as they often travel in rudimentary fishing boats that are highly vulnerable to the strong Atlantic currents.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) of the UN, in 2017, at least 559 people died while attempting to reach the Spanish islands by sea. In 2021, the death toll rose to 1,126.
The Interior Ministry of Spain, as reported by the IOM, states that 15,682 people entered the Canary Islands illegally in 2022, which represents a 30% decrease compared to 2021. However, despite the decline, the IOM highlights that migration along this hazardous route has remained significant since 2020.
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