Tragedy Off the Canaries: Five Migrants Lost in Dangerous Journey as Death Toll Rises

Published on
03/09/2026 – 15:37 GMT+2

Spanish rescuers reported the deaths of five African migrants attempting to reach Spain’s Canary Islands, while an international organization estimates the death toll could be significantly higher.

Spain’s maritime rescue service, Salvamento Maritimo, confirmed it rescued 44 men from sub-Saharan Africa from a distressed vessel approximately 120 kilometers southwest of Gran Canaria on Wednesday night. Three survivors were airlifted to a hospital on the island, while the remaining 41 migrants were transported by sea and disembarked in the port of Arguineguin on Thursday morning, where the Red Cross provided medical care.

“Adverse weather conditions,” including strong winds and waves reaching 2.5 meters, initially hindered rescue operations, preventing the recovery of bodies before the vessel was brought to port, according to Salvamento Maritimo.

All rescued individuals were male, with some traveling at a young age, according to José Antonio Rodríguez Verona, a spokesperson for the Red Cross in the Canaries. The migrants originated from Mali and Senegal.

Helena Maleno, a representative of the Spanish migrant aid organization Caminando Fronteras, reported via X that 83 migrants, including three women and a newborn girl, had died aboard a boat that departed Gambia 27 days earlier—a claim that remains unverified by Spanish authorities. The NGO bases its assessments on data from migrant families and official rescue records, which often reveal higher casualty figures than government reports.

A spokesperson for Salvamento Maritimo stated to AFP that the additional victims mentioned by the NGO “have not been found or rescued,” and the alternative death toll cannot be confirmed at this time.

The Canary Islands represent a primary route for migrant entry into Europe from West Africa, a pathway known for extreme peril due to powerful ocean currents and frequently overcrowded vessels.

Migrant landings have sharply declined in 2026, with only 5,163 arrivals reported between January 1 and August 31—marking a 57% decrease compared to the same period in 2024, which recorded over 46,000 arrivals, according to Spain’s Interior Ministry.

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