Santa Cruz de Tenerife/Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 8 Mar. (Europa Press) –
Maritime rescue services have successfully aided over 190 migrants on this Saturday, having retrieved them from four Cayucos off the coast of the Islands of El Hierro and Gran Canaria, according to the national agency’s report.
Just before 10:00 a.m., a Cayuco was reported approaching 3 miles from Anfi del Mar, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Subsequently, maritime controllers at the Maritime Rescue Centre in Las Palmas dispatched the Salvamar Macondo, which confirmed at 10:06 hours that it had visual contact with the vessel, which was stationary.
Consequently, the rescue operation commenced, resulting in the successful retrieval of 52 individuals, including a minor, of sub-Saharan descent, who were then transported to Arguineguín.
Three Cayucos near El Hierro
At around 10:05, the Civil Guard alerted the Maritime Rescue Centre in Tenerife regarding a potential Cayuco or Patera spotted 8 miles from the coast of El Hierro.
In response, the Salvamar Acrux was deployed to the location, where it found another Cayuco carrying an estimated 70 individuals, all of sub-Saharan origin.
However, while still searching for this latter Cayuco, the Civil Guard reported a second echo, this time situated approximately 11 miles from La Restinga.
Maritime controllers then mobilised Salvamar Adhara. By around 11:10 hours, the vessel had visual contact with the Cayuco, estimated to have over 70 people on board, and began escorting it to Restinga.
Later, at approximately 4:31 pm on Saturday, the captain of the Salvamar Acrux informed the Tenerife centre of a sighting of a third Cayuco, situated less than one mile from Restinga.
Although the exact number of individuals on this last vessel has yet to be disclosed, it is known that Salvamar is currently escorting them to port.
