Five Migrants Found Dead on Boat Rescued Near Canary Islands as Aid Group Reports Higher Toll

Five migrants have been found dead aboard a boat rescued near Spain’s Canary Islands, while a migrant rights organisation says survivors reported that dozens more people may have died during the journey across the Atlantic.                                                                                                                              

         

Spain’s Maritime Rescue service said the vessel was located about 65 nautical miles southwest of Arguineguín, on Gran Canaria, on Wednesday. Rescue teams brought 44 survivors ashore early Thursday, including three people who were in serious condition and had to be airlifted to hospital.

The five bodies found on the boat could not be recovered because of difficult weather conditions, according to Maritime Rescue. Authorities have so far confirmed only the five deaths discovered aboard the vessel.

However, Helena Maleno, founder of migrant rights organisation Walking Borders, said survivors gave a much higher account of the death toll. According to Maleno, survivors reported that 83 people, including three women and a baby, had died during the crossing.

The reported figure has not been independently verified by Reuters, and Spanish rescue authorities have confirmed only the five bodies found aboard the vessel. The difference highlights the difficulty of determining the full number of deaths during long and dangerous Atlantic crossings.

The boat had reportedly departed from The Gambia and spent 27 days at sea before being rescued. Such lengthy journeys can expose migrants to severe weather, dehydration, hunger and exhaustion, particularly when travelling in overcrowded and poorly equipped vessels.

The Atlantic route from West Africa to the Canary Islands remains one of the world's most dangerous migration routes. Thousands of people attempt the crossing each year in search of safety and better economic opportunities, despite the risks posed by rough seas, strong currents and the long distance involved.

Canary Islands regional president Fernando Clavijo described the latest incident as another reminder of the human cost of irregular migration. He said the islands should not become accustomed to deaths occurring on the Atlantic route and renewed calls for a broader government response to the migration crisis.

Official figures indicate that the number of migrants reaching the Canary Islands from West Africa has fallen by 57.4% so far this year. Despite that decline, the latest rescue demonstrates that the route continues to claim lives.

The tragedy has once again raised concerns over the dangers faced by people attempting the Atlantic crossing and the challenges confronting Spanish authorities and humanitarian organisations trying to prevent further loss of life.