Tragic Capsizing of Migrant Boat Near El Hierro Claims Lives of Four Women and Three Girls
A migrant boat capsized near El Hierro, Spain, resulting in the deaths of four women and three girls, with many others rescued.
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Overview
A small boat carrying over 100 migrants capsized near El Hierro, Spain, leading to the deaths of four women and three girls. The incident occurred as rescuers began evacuating minors after the boat, spotted 6 miles from shore, approached the dock. Emergency services rescued several individuals, with two children hospitalized in critical condition. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed condolences, highlighting the tragedy of migration. The Canary Islands remain a perilous route for migrants, with thousands risking their lives annually, despite a recent decrease in arrivals.
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"…Thousands have been known to die on the way to European territory."
ABC News·1M·"…The movement of people on the boat caused it to tip and then turn over, dumping the occupants into the water."
Associated Press·1M·FAQ
The boat capsized because as rescuers began evacuating minors while the boat was arriving at the dock, the movement of people caused it to tip and then overturn, throwing passengers into the water.
The boat was carrying over 100 migrants, and seven people died in the incident, including four women and three girls.
The Canary Islands are a main route for migrants crossing from the coast of Africa to Europe, with thousands risking their lives on often unseaworthy dinghies and rubber boats. Nearly 47,000 people made this crossing last year, with many coming from Mali, Senegal, Morocco, and boarding boats from Mauritania.
Several minors were on the boat, including those evacuated first by rescuers. Two children, a girl and a boy, were airlifted to a local hospital in critical condition after near-drowning.
By mid-May 2025, about 10,800 people had arrived via the Atlantic to the Canary Islands, a 34% decrease compared to the same period in 2024, despite previous records being set the year before.
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