HomeWorld NewsTragedy at Canary Islands: Seven Migrants Drown as Boat Capsizes at El Hierro Dock

Tragedy at Canary Islands: Seven Migrants Drown as Boat Capsizes at El Hierro Dock

Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson

May 28, 2025

3 min read

Brief

Seven migrants, including four women and three girls, drowned when a boat capsized at Spain’s Canary Islands, highlighting the dangers of the Atlantic migration route.

A tragedy unfolded off Spain’s Canary Islands on Wednesday when a small boat carrying migrants capsized at a dock on El Hierro, claiming the lives of seven people—four women, a teenage girl, and two younger girls. The vessel, packed with over 100 passengers, tipped over as rescuers began evacuating minors, plunging many into the water. Spanish maritime rescue services, located just 6 miles from shore, worked alongside the Red Cross to pull survivors from the sea.

Two children, a girl and a boy, were airlifted to a hospital in critical condition after nearly drowning. The Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off Africa’s western coast, have long been a perilous gateway for migrants risking their lives in flimsy boats. Last year, nearly 47,000 people reached these islands, mostly from Mali, Senegal, and Morocco, with thousands perishing on the treacherous Atlantic crossing.

This incident underscores the human cost of migration and the desperate conditions driving these journeys. Despite a 34% drop in arrivals this year compared to 2024, the route remains deadly, with unaccompanied minors among the most vulnerable.

Topics

migrant boat capsizesCanary IslandsSpain migrationEl Hierro tragedymaritime rescueAfrican migrantsAtlantic crossingWorld NewsMigrationTragedy

Editor's Comments

Another heartbreaking reminder that the sea doesn’t discriminate, but neither does desperation. These migrants risked everything for a shot at safety, only to meet tragedy at the dock. If the ocean could talk, it’d probably say, ‘I’m tired of being the world’s riskiest border.’ Maybe it’s time we build bridges instead of watching boats sink.

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