SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 10 Nov (EUROPA PRESS) –
Another cayuco carrying approximately 69 migrants has arrived on the island of El Hierro this Sunday, following its departure several days earlier from an unspecified location along the sub-Saharan coast. Consequently, the total number of migrants who have landed on the island now exceeds 140 individuals.
The alert was raised around 12:20 p.m. when the Civil Guard notified the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Tenerife of a suspicious signal, presumed to be a cayuco, situated about 7 miles (11.2 km) from La Restinga. This led to the deployment of the Adhara sea rescue vessel.
Upon locating the craft, the salvamar escorted it to the harbour. The Mike 02 unit from the Red Cross was also dispatched to assist with the disembarkation process. After reaching land, the migrants received assistance from personnel of the Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC), Primary Care, and Red Cross volunteers.
Another cayuco was discovered shortly before midnight, 8 miles (approximately 13 km) from La Restinga. Maritime controllers activated the sea guard Talía, which successfully located the cayuco and guided it to port. At about 4:45 a.m., 74 sub-Saharan individuals disembarked, including five women.
Once ashore, they were provided assistance by the health team stationed at the dock, which consisted of staff from the Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC), Primary Care, and Red Cross volunteers. No individuals were transferred to the Hospital Nuestra Señora de los Reyes.
On Saturday, two additional cayucos also arrived on the island, bringing the total number of migrants to 164. The first cayuco, carrying 72 migrants (69 men and 3 women of sub-Saharan descent), was intercepted shortly after 10:30 p.m. on Friday by the SIVE radar of the Civil Guard approximately 10 miles (16 km) south of the island and was met by the Salvamar Adhara, which safely escorted it to the port of La Restinga, where disembarkation occurred just before 1:00 a.m.
Following the health assessments conducted at the pier by members of the SUC, Primary Care, and the Red Cross, it was noted that the overall state of health was satisfactory, with no referrals to the island hospital necessary.
A further cayuco carrying 92 migrants was located after one of the occupants contacted the Emergency and Security Coordinating Centre (Cecoes) 1-1-2, reporting that they were navigating approximately 20 miles (32.1 km) south of the island.
The Guardamar Talía was dispatched to assist, successfully escorting the vessel to the port of La Restinga, where the disembarkation took place after 8:30 a.m. All migrants were reported to be in good health, with no need for hospital transfers.
