Two bodies were also discovered in one of the four boats. Two other people died in hospital. Refugee arrivals have also increased enormously in the Canary Islands.
Spanish security forces rescued more than 500 migrants in distress on the Canary Islands of El Hierro on Saturday. The coast guard said the people were traveling in four boats. There were also two bodies in the boats. According to the Guardia Civil, two of those rescued died in a hospital. The number of arrivals has increased since September due to milder weather and calmer seas.
On Thursday, the Ministry of the Interior in Madrid announced that a total of 30,705 migrants arrived in the Canary Islands in the first ten months of this year. This represents a 111 percent increase over the same period last year. The government announced it would create additional emergency accommodation for around 3,000 migrants in barracks, hotels and hostels.
The Canary Islands are just 100 kilometers off the west coast of Africa
A large proportion of migrants arriving in Spain by sea arrive in the Canary Islands. The archipelago is located approximately 100 kilometers off the west coast of Africa. The seven islands have become the main destinations for migrants from Senegal and other African countries. (APA)