Latest news with #AlexisRamos
Daily Tribune
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Tribune
Migrant boat capsize kills seven in Spain's Canary I
Four women and three girls died after their migrant boat capsized shortly before reaching safety in Spain's Canary Islands on Wednesday, emergency services said, the latest tragedy on the perilous route. Emergency services in the Atlantic archipelago said rescuers supported by a helicopter were working to save people in the port of La Restinga on the island of El Hierro. Red Cross spokesman Alexis Ramos told RTVE there could be "more than 100 people" on the boat but was unable to provide a figure for the number of missing. Public broadcaster RTVE aired footage of rescuers throwing lifebuoys to people clinging onto an overturned boat and treading water off El Hierro. Emergency services initially confirmed on X "the death of two women after the capsizing of a vessel" in La Restinga and later said "health services confirm another two dead women". The rescuers then reported the death of two girls aged five and another aged 16, which meant the incident "has resulted in seven people dead". A three-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl were being treated after they almost drowned and would be transported by helicopter to a hospital in Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, the emergency services added on X. Four other minors with breathing difficulties were being taken to hospital on El Hierro, they added. Spain takes in each year tens of thousands of Europe-bound migrants who arrive in the Canary Islands from west Africa -- with Mali, Senegal and Morocco the most common nationalities. Strong ocean currents and ramshackle vessels make the long crossing dangerous. According to the NGO Caminando Fronteras, at least 10,457 migrants died or disappeared while trying to reach Spain by sea from January 1 to December 5, 2024. Local authorities have consistently warned of unsustainable pressure on their resources and complained about a lack of solidarity from the rest of the country. "Once again we witness the harshest face of immigration which those far away fail to appreciate in its true measure," the Canary Islands' regional leader Fernando Clavijo said on X. "Please listen to us!" Almost 47,000 irregular arrivals reached the archipelago in 2024, breaking the annual record for the second year running, as tighter controls in the Mediterranean pushed migrants to attempt the Atlantic route. But numbers are down so far this year, dropping 34.4 percent between January 1 and May 15 compared with the same period in 2024, according to the latest interior ministry figures.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- General
- Express Tribune
Seven dead as migrant boat capsizes off Spain's Canary Islands
A boat with migrants arrives at the port of La Restinga on the island of El Hierro, Spain. Photo: Reuters Listen to article Seven people, including four women and three girls, have died after a boat carrying refugees and migrants capsized while approaching the port of El Hierro in Spain's Canary Islands, emergency services said on Wednesday. The small vessel, believed to be carrying more than 100 people, overturned just metres from the dock as rescuers were attempting to disembark minors, Al Jazeera reported. Spain's maritime rescue service said the sudden movement of passengers caused the boat to tip over and dump its occupants into the water. Red Cross spokesman Alexis Ramos told broadcaster RTVE that there could be 'more than 100 people' on board, though the exact number of those missing remains unclear. A helicopter airlifted two more children — a girl and a boy — to hospital in critical condition after they were pulled from the sea. The boat was first spotted roughly 10 kilometres (6 miles) offshore before being escorted to the dock, officials said. Spanish authorities have launched an investigation into the latest incident. The Canary Islands, located off Africa's western coast, have long been a key gateway for refugees and migrants attempting the perilous journey to European territory. Many travel in overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels, risking their lives in hopes of reaching Spain. Nearly 47,000 people reached the Canaries last year, with the majority coming from Mali, Senegal and Morocco. Many embark from the Mauritanian coastline, often enduring treacherous conditions during the Atlantic crossing. The route continues to see a large number of unaccompanied minors among the arrivals. Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly called for increased support and safer migration pathways to prevent such tragedies.
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Migrant boat capsize kills seven in Spain's Canary Islands
Image: AP MADRID; Four women and three girls died after their migrant boat capsized shortly before reaching safety in Spain's Canary Islands on Wednesday, emergency services said, the latest tragedy on the perilous route. Emergency services in the Atlantic archipelago said rescuers supported by a helicopter were working to save people in the port of La Restinga on the island of El Hierro. Red Cross spokesman Alexis Ramos told RTVE there could be "more than 100 people" on the boat but was unable to provide a figure for the number of missing. Public broadcaster RTVE aired footage of rescuers throwing lifebuoys to people clinging onto an overturned boat and treading water off El Hierro. Emergency services initially confirmed on X "the death of two women after the capsizing of a vessel" in La Restinga and later said "health services confirm another two dead women". The rescuers then reported the death of two girls aged five and another aged 16, which meant the incident "has resulted in seven people dead". A three-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl were being treated after they almost drowned and would be transported by helicopter to a hospital in Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, the emergency services added on X. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Four other minors with breathing difficulties were being taken to hospital on El Hierro, they added. Spain takes in each year tens of thousands of Europe-bound migrants who arrive in the Canary Islands from west Africa -- with Mali, Senegal and Morocco the most common nationalities. Strong ocean currents and ramshackle vessels make the long crossing dangerous. According to the NGO Caminando Fronteras, at least 10,457 migrants died or disappeared while trying to reach Spain by sea from January 1 to December 5, 2024. Local authorities have consistently warned of unsustainable pressure on their resources and complained about a lack of solidarity from the rest of the country. "Once again we witness the harshest face of immigration which those far away fail to appreciate in its true measure," the Canary Islands' regional leader Fernando Clavijo said on X. "Please listen to us!" Almost 47,000 irregular arrivals reached the archipelago in 2024, breaking the annual record for the second year running, as tighter controls in the Mediterranean pushed migrants to attempt the Atlantic route. But numbers are down so far this year, dropping 34.4 percent between January 1 and May 15 compared with the same period in 2024, according to the latest interior ministry figures.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
Seven dead as migrant boat capsizes near Canary Islands port
MADRID - At least seven people died when a migrant boat capsized as rescuers were escorting it to port in Spain's Canary Islands, regional emergency services said on Wednesday. The open-topped boat, which state broadcaster TVE said was laden with about 180 people, went down as it neared La Restinga harbour on El Hierro, the archipelago's smallest island. Two 5-year-old girls were among the dead. A 16-year-old girl and four women also died, emergency services said. A spokesperson for Spain's maritime rescue service said a rescue vessel was escorting the boat to the harbour and as it approached, many of its passengers appeared to rush to one side of the precarious vessel, causing it to capsize. TVE live footage showed the boat sinking, throwing people - including children - into the water, with many trying to clamber onto the nearby maritime rescue vessel as its crew tossed life preservers to them. Red Cross spokesperson Alexis Ramos told TVE members of several local dive clubs had helped with the rescue, with many specialist divers supporting the emergency services. A medical helicopter was sent to help emergency personnel pluck people from the water, the emergency services said. The number of migrants reaching the Canary Islands from West Africa hit an all-time high in 2024, but the number of arrivals has fallen this year, Interior Ministry data indicates. The Atlantic route is especially dangerous as rough weather can easily capsize the fragile rafts, dugout-like boats and dinghies used by most migrants. In the first five months of 2024, 4,808 people died on the Atlantic voyage to the Canaries after departing from Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal and Gambia, according to migrant rights group Walking Borders. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
