A search operation continues off the eastern coast of Lanzarote, as rescue services try to locate at least two people missing after jumping from an inflatable boat into open sea during the night. A group of about fifty migrants—including men, women, and children—were attempting to reach the Canary Islands when they spotted an approaching cargo ship.
The situation escalated rapidly. When the vessel was sighted, some of the people panicked and jumped into the water, hoping to be rescued. One was pulled aboard the cargo ship, and another was saved by the crew of the patrol boat Guardamar Polimnia. However, the exact number of missing persons is still unknown; according to various reports, two or three people remain unaccounted for.
As a result of the rescue operation, 55 people—including 42 men, 11 women, and two minors—were brought safely to the port of Arrecife. Their evacuation took several hours: the boat was found about 83 kilometers from the island, and they did not reach the port until morning. The operation was coordinated by the Las Palmas services and the provincial maritime administration.
The search involved not only patrol boats, but also the Helimer 215 helicopter, and a plane is also planned to be deployed to survey the area. In addition, rescuers received information about other possible migrant boats in the region, as several distress signals had recently been reported about vessels departing from Africa.
The operation is complicated by challenging weather conditions and the fact that the exact number of people who jumped into the water remains unknown. Rescue teams continue to search the area, hoping to find survivors. Meanwhile, the migrants who arrived on the island are undergoing medical examinations and receiving necessary assistance.
