Hundreds of migrants feared missing near Spain's Canary Islands

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
9 Jul 2023 23:58
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The families of around 300 people on board have not received any communication since their departure.

Migrants rest on the pier after disembarking from a 'cayuco' (wooden boat) following a rescue operation on July 4, (AFP)

Migrant aid group Walking Borders reported Sunday that approximately 300 people who were traveling on three migrant boats from Senegal to Spain's Canary Islands have disappeared.

According to Helena Maleno of Walking Borders, two boats carrying around 65 people and between 50 and 60 people respectively, have been missing for 15 days since their departure from Senegal in an attempt to reach Spain.

Another boat, with approximately 200 people on board, left Senegal on June 27th.

The families of those on board have not received any communication since their departure.

All three boats departed from Kafountine in the south of Senegal, which is about 1,700 kilometers away from Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands.

The families are deeply concerned, as the approximately 300 people are from the same area of Senegal and left due to instability in the country.

It is worth noting that the Canary Islands have become a primary destination for migrants attempting to reach Spain, particularly during the summer.

The Atlantic migration route, often used by migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, is known to be one of the deadliest in the world. In 2022, at least 559 people, including 22 children, lost their lives while attempting to reach the Canary Islands, according to data from the UN's International Organization for Migration.