Spain’s Canary Islands record highest daily migrant arrivals since 2020; 1,488 rescued

Spain’s Canary Islands recorded their highest number of migrant arrivals in a single day since 2020 after 1,488 people were rescued from 14 boats on Saturday, as the Atlantic migration route from West Africa saw a fresh increase in crossings, EFE news agency reported, citing the maritime rescue service.The latest arrivals surpassed the previous daily record of 1,461 people rescued in waters near the archipelago on November 7, 2020, according to maritime rescue authorities.The increase follows a rise in arrivals from West African countries since October, placing additional pressure on reception and emergency services on some islands. Smaller and less densely populated islands have been particularly affected.El Hierro, one of the smallest islands in the archipelago, received 12 of the 14 boats on Saturday. The remaining two arrived in Gran Canaria and Tenerife.One of the boats carried 240 people, including 12 women and 36 children. Authorities said those rescued were taken to El Hierro, with most coming from Senegal, Gambia and Guinea-Conakry.Spain’s Territorial Policy Minister Angel Victor Torres is scheduled to visit El Hierro on Sunday to discuss the increase in migrant arrivals.The Atlantic crossing from West Africa to the Canary Islands remains one of the world’s deadliest migration routes.