Coast Guard Rescues 248 Migrants from Distressed Canoe Near Gran Canaria
Spanish Maritime Rescue successfully rescued 248 migrants, including two infants, from a distressed canoe spotted by a merchant vessel approximately 429 kilometers south of Gran Canaria on Sunday morning, reports 24brussels.
The NGO Caminando Fronteras, which alerted authorities regarding the canoe’s departure, indicated that all rescued individuals are of sub-Saharan origin, including 10 minors and 17 women who reportedly left Senegal. The situation unfolded when the ship Teos informed the National Maritime Rescue Center about a canoe adrift with numerous people on board.
At approximately 02:15 hours, the Guardamar Urania was dispatched to the location following the request for assistance from the merchant ship, which was unable to safely conduct further operations due to the canoe being adrift without an engine. Despite being within a Search and Rescue area managed jointly by Spain and Morocco, Moroccan authorities reported they had no vessels available to support the rescue efforts.
The rescue vessel reached the Arguineguín dock by approximately 15:30 hours local time, where the migrants underwent initial medical assessments. This marks the first major rescue operation on the Canary route since August 12, highlighting the ongoing migration crisis in the region.
The incident underscores the urgent need for coordinated humanitarian responses as migratory pressures continue to escalate along perilous routes from Africa to Europe.
