Three canoes carrying over 200 migrants aboard arrived last Sunday at the islands of Tenerife and El Hierro after being intercepted by Maritime Rescue after setting sail several days ago from somewhere along the Sub-Saharan coast, as reported by sources from Maritime Rescue.
One of the canoes alerted the emergency services providing different vague positions, first at 35 nautical miles from Los Cristianos and then at 13 nautical miles from Punta Rasca, claiming to see mountains and a large white ship.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Tenerife initiated the search and was joined by the Center in Las Palmas. Maritime controllers mobilised the Helimer 206 helicopter and alerted the ‘Volcán de Tirajana’ ferry, which at 5:20 pm confirmed sighting the canoe.
At that moment, they were instructed to stand by in the area and the Helimer 206 was sent to the position, which was also approached by the Alpheraz rescue vessel. The helicopter spotted the canoe and reported it as stationary, thanking the ‘Volcán de Tirajana’ for their collaboration, which resumed its journey.
At around 6:10 pm, the Alpheratz rescue vessel sighted the canoe and rescued the 102 people on board, including 16 women and 1 minor, who were disembarked in Los Cristianos. There, they were assisted by medical personnel and 4 transfers to medical centres were carried out for various conditions.
At the same time, the Civil Guard reported two suspicious echoes 4 nautical miles from La Restinga and dispatched the Río Segura patrol boat. The Maritime Rescue Center in Tenerife mobilised the Adhara rescue vessel, which located both canoes, with 106 people, including women and children, and escorted them to the port.
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Once ashore, the rescued individuals were attended to by medical personnel from the SUC and Primary Care, along with volunteers from Cruz. They all appeared to be in good health and no transfers to medical centres were necessary.
