SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 10 Nov (EUROPA PRESS) –
A vessel carrying five individuals, all of sub-Saharan descent, reached the shores of Gran Canaria today, Sunday, after departing several days ago from a location along the African coast, as reported by official sources from Maritime Rescue to Europa Press.
The alert was raised around 4:30 p.m., when the Red Cross notified the Rescue Centre in Las Palmas about the sighting of a boat less than a mile from the shore, near the Maspalomas lighthouse, with one of its jet skis already guiding it towards the land.
The maritime controllers dispatched the Macondo salvamar, which successfully rescued the five occupants of the vessel, all adult males, and subsequently brought them ashore in Arguineguín.
On this Sunday, two additional canoes also landed on the island of El Hierro. The first was detected around 12:20 p.m., when the Civil Guard alerted the Maritime Rescue Centre in Tenerife about a suspicious echo, potentially a cayuco, approximately 7 miles (11.2 km) from La Restinga, prompting a rescue operation with the sea craft Adhara.
After identifying the canoe, the salvamar escorted it to port. Mike 02 from the Red Cross was also activated to assist with the disembarkation. Once ashore, they were provided assistance by personnel from the Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC), Primary Care, and Red Cross volunteers.
The second cayuco was detected shortly before midnight, 8 miles (around 13 km) from La Restinga. The maritime controllers dispatched the sea guard Talía, who located the canoe and guided it to port. By approximately 4:45 a.m., 74 sub-Saharan individuals had disembarked there, including five women.
Upon landing, they received support from the medical team prepared at the dock, composed of staff from the Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC), Primary Care, and Red Cross volunteers, with no transfers required to Hospital Nuestra Señora de los Reyes.
