Spanish maritime authorities have confirmed that more than 80 people died after a migrant boat drifted for 26 days south of the Canary Islands. The boat left Gambia on August 7 with 128 people on board. Only 45 had survived when it was found. Five bodies, including a baby, remained on board. The rest are missing and presumed dead, information from EFE and Xinhua.
The rescue took place early Thursday morning, when the Guardamar Urania reached the drifting boat about 120 kilometers from Gran Canaria. Rough seas hampered the operation, and rescuers had to leave the five bodies on board until conditions improved. Exhausted and traumatized, the survivors were taken to the port of Arguineguín, where the Red Cross provided emergency care.
The vessel was identified by matching its hull markings with records of a boat that left Gambia on August 7, information from the Guardia Civil and the NGO Caminando Fronteras.
Survivors said the journey began with more than a hundred people, including four women and a baby. Most died from exposure and a lack of supplies, EFE and Xinhua reported.
Salvamento Marítimo found the boat after an aerial search on Wednesday afternoon. Survivors described running out of food and water as they faced constant danger at sea. The Red Cross provided immediate help when they arrived, but the loss of life was already overwhelming.
This incident lays bare the deadly risks of irregular migration to Europe, particularly on the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands. The crossing from West Africa is one of the most dangerous. Overcrowded boats and unpredictable weather compound the risks, while rescue resources remain limited. Spanish authorities and Xinhua report that hundreds have died or disappeared on this route in recent years, despite increased patrols and international cooperation.
In recent days, there have been further attempts to reach the Canary Islands: Morocco intercepted a boat carrying 201 migrants off Dakhla, while Mauritania reported intercepting or rescuing 161 migrants, all heading for the Canaries.
Morocco World News and Winnipeg Free Press / AP
Spanish rescue services responded as soon as the boat was detected, but the delay in finding it shows how difficult it is to monitor such a vast area of ocean. Only 45 of the 128 people survived. A baby was among the dead, a stark measure of the human cost. Safer migration options and better coordination are needed to prevent further deaths on these dangerous journeys.
