Spanish coastguards rescued 231 migrants from a single wooden vessel off the Canary Islands on Sunday, marking the largest such rescue operation near Gran Canaria this year, authorities reported.
The rescued group included fourteen women and three children, all discovered aboard a precarious wooden boat near Gran Canaria’s main port. Coastguard vessels towed the migrant boat to safety after spotting it in nearby waters.
The operation highlights the growing pressure on the Atlantic migration route to Spain’s Canary Islands. Government data shows 32,878 migrants attempted the hazardous journey from West Africa between January and October 15 this year, representing a 39.7% increase from the same period in 2023.
While the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands has experienced the fastest growth in irregular migration in recent years, officials note that overall numbers remain below those recorded on the Central Mediterranean route toward Italy.
