Tragic Migrant Boat Capsize Leaved At Least 7 dead Near Canary Islands

At least seven people—four women and three girls, including a 16-year-old and two toddlers—died when an overcrowded migrant boat capsized near El Hierro in Spain’s Canary Islands on Wednesday, The Guardian reported.

The vessel, carrying an estimated 150 people, overturned just meters from La Restinga harbor, reportedly due to sudden movement onboard. Emergency crews, aided by locals and divers, rescued survivors, but two children (3 and 5 years old) remain critical, while a three-month-old was hospitalized for breathing difficulties.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the incident a humanitarian crisis, urging action to address the deadly Atlantic migration route, which claimed over 10,400 lives in 2024. Despite a 33% drop in arrivals this year, the journey remains perilous, with migrants often boarding unstable boats ill-equipped for rough seas. Officials noted extreme exhaustion among survivors, highlighting the dangers of the “most delicate moment” during rescues. Regional leader Fernando Clavijo described the event as a grim reminder of the human cost of irregular migration.