More than 3,200 migrants have reached the Canary Islands aboard 39 boats during the first five days of November, putting renewed pressure on rescue teams and reception services across the archipelago.
The provisional figures, recorded up to yesterday evening, Thursday 5th November, show that El Hierro has received the largest number of arrivals, followed by Lanzarote.
The increase follows an already busy October and has prompted calls for additional resources to help the islands respond to the number of people making the dangerous Atlantic crossing.
Arrivals across the islands
Around 2,300 people reached El Hierro during the first five days of November, according to emergency-service figures. They included more than 300 minors.
Lanzarote received approximately 435 people during the same period, including at least 76 minors. Further arrivals were recorded in Gran Canaria, Tenerife and La Gomera.
The figures are provisional and may change as further rescues and arrivals are recorded.
Between Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon, maritime rescue teams brought 901 people ashore from nine boats heading to El Hierro, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and La Gomera.
Among them were 112 people brought to Arguineguín, in the south of Gran Canaria, and 51 people who arrived in Lanzarote, including three children.
Pressure on rescue and reception services
The number of arrivals has increased demands on emergency workers, police and the facilities that provide food, medical checks and temporary accommodation when people come ashore.
Some of those arriving in El Hierro are being transferred to other islands and mainland Spain to free up space for further arrivals.
Spain’s government representative in the Canary Islands, Anselmo Pestana, has acknowledged the pressure on resources but says transfers to other reception facilities are helping the system continue to operate.
Police unions and representatives of maritime rescue workers have raised concerns about staffing and fatigue, and have asked for more support.
Canarian president Fernando Clavijo has requested an urgent coordination meeting with the Spanish Government to discuss the increase in arrivals and the resources needed to respond.
