Spain says nearly 2,200 migrants have reached Canary Islands in 2 days

Over the past two days, nearly 2,200 migrants have arrived by boat in Spain's Canary Islands, according to the Spanish maritime rescue service. The archipelago, situated off northwest Africa, serves as a primary entry point for migrants from West Africa who embark on perilous Atlantic crossings in deteriorated vessels. Of the approximately 28,000 individuals who have reached Spain by sea between January and the end of October, over 13,000 have landed on the Canary Islands, as reported by the Interior Ministry.

The Maritime Rescue Service reported assisting 1,324 migrants aboard 14 dinghies, with the majority of them landing on the island of El Hierro. This figure is close to the daily record for this route, which was set on November 7, 2020, with 1,461 people rescued. The stretch of the Atlantic Ocean between West Africa and the Canary Islands is considered one of the world's deadliest migration routes, spanning roughly 65 miles (105 kilometers) from the nearest African coast.

To evade security forces, many migrants undertake longer journeys that can extend over days or even weeks. The vast majority of these migrants depart from West Africa.