SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 28 September (EUROPA PRESS) –
The president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, has called an urgent meeting with several members of his government, scheduled for today at 6:30 p.m. at the Presidential headquarters in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in response to the humanitarian tragedy that unfolded early this morning off the coast of El Hierro, following the capsizing of a canoe.
At least nine migrants have perished in the incident, with 48 others reported missing, while 27 individuals were successfully rescued, three of whom have been transferred to the Hospital Nuestra Señora de los Reyes for various medical concerns.
The events transpired late last night, around 12:15 a.m., when the Emergency and Security Coordinating Centre (Cecoes) 1-1-2 notified the Tenerife Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre after receiving an emergency call from a canoe carrying 84 people, located approximately 4 miles east of El Hierro.
Rescue control stations promptly set in motion the Concepción Arenal sea guard, which discovered a capsized canoe 4 miles south of La Estaca port, with its passengers thrown into the sea, leading to the successful rescue of 27 survivors.
It appears that the canoe capsized due to occupants clustering on one side during the rescue operations. This, compounded by challenging conditions, including nighttime and adverse weather with wind gusts nearing 20 knots, complicated the rescue efforts.
During the operation, the Adhara rescuer was able to recover nine bodies, and efforts are ongoing to locate the 48 missing individuals. The 27 survivors were given medical assistance at La Estaca port, with three requiring transfer to the Hospital Nuestra Señora de los Reyes; one was treated for hypothermia, another for dehydration, and a third for moderate shoulder trauma.
The search operation involves the Mizar sea guard, the Callíope sea guard, the Heroínas de Sálvora ship, and the Helimer 101 Maritime Rescue helicopter, as well as the Río Guadiato patrol boat, the Cuco helicopter of the Civil Guard, and the helicopter from the Emergency and Rescue Group (GES) based in El Hierro.
ACT “DETERMINATELY”
“Regrettably, this latest tragedy highlights the peril of the Atlantic Route once more,” the president of the Canary Islands stated on his official Twitter feed, urging Spain and the European Union to respond “decisively” to this ongoing humanitarian crisis. “These are children, women, and men. Lives extinguished merely metres from Europe’s southern border,” he added, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Candelaria Delgado, the Minister of Social Welfare for the Canary Islands Government, echoed these sentiments, asserting, “It is imperative for Spain and Europe to take action to prevent this harrowing situation from occurring repeatedly.” “No one can remain indifferent to the deaths of those escaping poverty, war, and a bleak future in search of a better life for themselves and their families,” she continued.
The minister expressed her sorrow that incidents like today’s occur more frequently than we may realise. Therefore, she believes that both the State and European institutions must establish mechanisms to eradicate these “dangerous journeys” while simultaneously providing safe migration pathways, granting these individuals the opportunity to realise their life aspirations.
Meanwhile, Alfonso Cabello, the vice-counsellor of the Presidency and spokesman for the regional Executive, reiterated that the Government of the Canary Islands has long sought a structural response from the European Union and the Spanish State, which “has yet to materialise and is leading us toward a humanitarian catastrophe.”
