In January, the number of individuals from west Africa who risked crossing the sea by boat to reach Spain’s Canary Islands increased by over 1,000% compared to the previous year, according to information released by the Spanish interior ministry.
According to the ministry’s report on Thursday, the number of individuals who arrived on the Atlantic Ocean archipelago during the month of January was 7,270, which is a significant increase of almost 13 times compared to the 566 individuals who arrived in January 2023.
Last year, the archipelago off the north-west coast of Africa, which is a highly sought-after tourist spot in Spain, welcomed a total of 39,910 visitors – the highest number ever recorded.
In 2023, the island of El Hierro, the smallest and furthest west, had a larger number of migrants arrive than its resident population of 9,000.
Based on an annual report from Walking Borders, the most dangerous migration route to Spain is the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands, with a recorded 6,007 fatalities during the perilous sea journey in the previous year.
The Spanish ministry reported that 8,067 individuals entered Spain through unofficial methods, including land and sea, in January. This represents a significant increase of 524% compared to the previous year.
Source: theguardian.com
