Spanish coast guard rescues 85 migrants near Canary Islands

The Spanish coast guard rescued 85 migrants on Thursday, seven miles off the Canary Islands, news reports said. The group, believed to be from sub-Saharan Africa, was safely brought to the port of Arguineguín on Gran Canaria.

The Canary Islands remain a central point in Europe’s migration crisis, with 46,843 arrivals recorded in 2024—a record high, accounting for 73% of all irregular entries into Spain, according to the Interior Ministry.

Local authorities continue to face challenges in managing the influx, as the Spanish government balances humanitarian aid with calls for tighter border controls.