SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 28 September (EUROPA PRESS) –
Among the nine migrants who perished today during the capsizing of a canoe off the coast of El Hierro, one is a minor, and of the 27 survivors, three are reported to be minors, as informed by sources from the Emergency and Security Coordinating Centre (Cecoes) 1-1-2 to Europa Press.
Currently, the operation to locate the remaining 48 missing migrants is ongoing. It involves the sea rescue craft Mizar, the sea guard Callíope, the vessel Heroínas de Sálvora, and the Helimer 101 Maritime Rescue helicopter; alongside the Río Guadiato patrol boat and the Cuco helicopter from the Civil Guard, as well as the helicopter of the Emergency and Rescue Group (GES) of the Canary Islands Government, based in El Hierro.
The incident occurred last night around 12:15 a.m., when the Emergency and Security Coordinating Centre (Cecoes) 1-1-2 alerted the Tenerife Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre following a distress call from a canoe carrying 84 individuals approximately 4 miles east of the island.
The rescue controllers promptly deployed the Concepción Arenal sea guard, which discovered a capsized canoe 4 miles south of the port of La Estaca, with its occupants in the water; they successfully rescued 27 individuals.
It appears that the canoe capsized during the rescue effort as the passengers shifted to one side. Compounding the difficulty, the operation was conducted at night in adverse weather, with wind gusts reaching 20 knots.
Throughout the rescue, the Adhara rescuer recovered nine bodies, and efforts continue to locate the 48 individuals still missing. The 27 survivors received assistance at the port of La Estaca from medical personnel, with three being transported to Hospital Nuestra Señora de los Reyes; one for hypothermia, another for dehydration, and the third with moderate shoulder trauma.
In light of this humanitarian disaster, the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, has convened an emergency meeting with several government officials scheduled for today, Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at the Presidency headquarters in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Additionally, two other canoes arrived on El Hierro today, one carrying 131 people and the other with 20, although transfers to healthcare facilities have not been necessary.
