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Straits Times
5 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.
Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
At least 6 dead as migrant boat capsizes near Canary Islands port
Emergency services said a medical helicopter was sent to rescue migrants from the water. (EPA Images pic) MADRID : At least six people died when a migrant boat bound for Spain's Canary Islands capsized off the island of El Hierro as rescuers were escorting it to port, regional emergency services said on Wednesday. The open-topped boat, which according to state broadcaster TVE was laden with around 180 people, went down as it neared La Restinga harbour on El Hierro, the archipelago's smallest island. A spokesperson for the islands' 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 migrants – including children – into the water, with many trying to clamber onto the nearby maritime rescue vessel as its crew tossed life preservers to them. A medical helicopter was sent to help emergency personnel pluck migrants 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 indicate. 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.
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Climate
- Straits Times
Six dead as migrant boat capsizes near Canary Islands port
MADRID - At least six people died when a migrant boat bound for Spain's Canary Islands capsized off the island of El Hierro as rescuers were escorting it to port, regional emergency services said on Wednesday. The open-topped boat, which according to state broadcaster TVE was laden with around 180 people, went down as it neared La Restinga harbour on El Hierro, the archipelago's smallest island. A spokesperson for the islands' 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 migrants - including children - into the water, with many trying to clamber onto the nearby maritime rescue vessel as its crew tossed life preservers to them. A medical helicopter was sent to help emergency personnel pluck migrants 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 indicate. 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.
Express Tribune
15-05-2025
- Climate
- Express Tribune
Seville explosion: 2 people injured as health alert launched in Southern Spain
Authorities in southern Spain issued a regional health alert on Wednesday after a chemical plant explosion near Seville sent a towering plume of black smoke into the sky and forced emergency warnings to tens of thousands of nearby residents. The blast occurred midday at an industrial facility in Alcalá de Guadaíra, located roughly 16 kilometres east of Seville's city centre. Two people were reported injured: a plant worker suffered minor burns, while a firefighter became ill at the scene, according to regional officials in Andalusia. Local emergency services evacuated staff from the site and urged people within a three-kilometre radius—roughly 25,000 residents—to remain indoors, close windows, and wear face masks if necessary. The chemical company involved, identified by Spanish media as Plainsur, occupies an 11,000 square metre facility in the industrial park. Plainsur specialises in packaging and distributing chemical products, though authorities have not yet disclosed which chemicals were involved in the explosion. Footage shared on social media and local news outlets showed a thick, dark column of smoke rising above the skyline, visible from several kilometres away. TVE, Spain's national broadcaster, and Diario de Sevilla confirmed the fire originated at the Plainsur site. This marks the second chemical plant fire in Spain in less than a week. On Saturday, a blaze at a facility in northeastern Spain prompted similar stay-at-home orders for 150,000 residents across five towns. The incident adds to a series of recent disruptions in Spain's infrastructure. A nationwide power outage on April 28 also affected neighbouring Portugal, though authorities have ruled out cyber sabotage. More recently, train services between Madrid and Seville were disrupted due to the theft of copper cabling. Authorities continue to monitor air quality and assess the risk of chemical exposure, while firefighters work to fully contain the blaze. Investigations into the cause of the explosion are ongoing. No further evacuations have been ordered, but health officials have urged vulnerable populations—including children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions—to exercise caution. The Spanish Ministry of the Interior has yet to issue a formal statement on the broader implications for national infrastructure safety.
Toronto Star
14-05-2025
- General
- Toronto Star
Regional health alert issued in Spain after explosion at a chemical plant near Seville
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — An explosion at a chemical plant near the Spanish city of Seville on Wednesday sent a huge column of thick black smoke into the air and prompted authorities to warn residents to stay indoors. Regional authorities for Andalusia reported two people were injured as a result of the blast. One plant worker suffered light burns and a firefighter felt ill, authorities said without giving more details. It is the latest in a series of apparently unrelated incidents recently impacting Spain's infrastructure, including a nationwide power outage that also hit Portugal. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The fire prompted officials to send messages to the mobile phones of some 25,000 residents within a radius of three kilometers (1.8 miles) of the explosion recommending that they wear face masks or close their windows. The explosion occurred midday in an industrial park in the municipality of Alcalá de Guadaíra, about 16 kilometers east of Seville's city center. Emergency services cleared personnel from the plant site. Authorities have not said what chemicals were involved in explosion. Spanish state broadcaster TVE and other media, including the local Diario de Sevilla newspaper, reported that the explosion occurred on the premises of Plainsur, a company that packages and distributes chemical products. The company occupies some 11,000 m2 at the industrial plant, including a large warehouse, according to its website. It is the second fire at a chemical plant in Spain in recent days. On Saturday, a fire at a chemical factory in northeastern Spain forced emergency services to issue health warnings to 150,000 residents and stay-indoors orders for five nearby towns. On April 28, the massive power outage hit Spain and Portugal. Authorities are still investigating but have ruled out a cyber attack or sabotage. That was followed by major train disruption between Madrid and Seville, caused by thieves who stole copper cabling from a trail line. ___ A previous version of this story included information from officials that they had issued warnings to the population of Alcalá de Guadaíra, which is home to 77,000 residents, before they later specified that the alerts reached 25,000 people.
