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At least 80 die off Canary Islands
A boat that left Gambia carrying more than a hundred people was found south of Gran Canaria with 44 survivors.
What happened
Spanish maritime rescuers found a drifting wooden boat south of Gran Canaria after nearly four weeks at sea. Five bodies were aboard, and 44 survivors were taken off. Survivor accounts and departure estimates indicate that more than 80 people died during the journey, including a baby.
Numbers
- More than 80People feared dead during crossing — Including a baby
- 44 survivorsRescued from the drifting boat
- 5 bodiesFound aboard the vessel
- 26 daysTime adrift before rescue
Questions
- How were survivors treated afterward?
- Several survivors were taken to hospital; the others reached Arguineguín, where the Red Cross provided assistance after the rescue.
- Why is this route dangerous?
- The crossing uses small open wooden boats on the Atlantic, exposing passengers to long distances, storms, hunger and thirst.
- Why were bodies left aboard?
- Rough seas and the urgency of medical care meant the rescue vessel could not recover the five bodies during the operation.
- What alerts reach rescuers?
- Caminando Fronteras often receives distress calls from boats or relatives, then alerts Spain's maritime rescue service about the boat.
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The catch
The initial passenger count and the fate of those missing rely on survivor accounts and departure information.