(CNN Spanish) – At least nine migrants died and 48 are missing after their boat capsized off the coast of El Hierro in Spain’s Canary Islands on Saturday, Salvamento Maritimo reported.
The company, which is part of Spain’s Ministry of Transport and Mobility, explained through posts on social networks that they had received a call in the early hours of the morning from a ferry carrying at least 84 people.
“During the rescue operation, all the people on the boat gathered on one side of the boat and it capsized and they all fell into the sea,” the head of the National Rescue Center said in the video. Manuel Barroso.
“The weather is not ideal, with winds of up to 20 knots and night making any rescue operation difficult,” the official added.
After the boat capsized, rescuers rescued 27 people alive and recovered nine bodies, Barroso said.
Anselmo Pestana, the representative of the Spanish government in the Canary Islands, told AFP in an interview that four minors were among those rescued.
“What we have now is probably the effort to rescue most of the dead and the most critical deployment on land, in the air and at sea,” Pestana added.
Maritime rescue has indicated that it is using ships and helicopters in search efforts.
According to Interior Ministry data, irregular immigration to Spain by sea and land has increased so far this year. Between January and September 15, 2024, 37,970 immigrants arrived in the country, 12,499 more than the 25,471 who arrived during the same period in 2023.
In terms of immigration to the Canary Islands, 26,758 immigrants arrived this year, 12,304 more than the 14,454 recorded on the same date last year.
