Canary Islands mark two decades of deadly Atlantic migration route

The Canary Islands mark two decades of operating one of the world’s deadliest migration routes. For years, the Atlantic waters have served as a gateway to Europe, characterized by frequent shipwrecks, disappearances, and significant loss of life as migrants attempt the crossing in precarious vessels.

A major turning point occurred in 2006, known as the ‘cayucos crisis,’ when 31,678 people from West Africa arrived on the islands in makeshift boats. This unprecedented surge transformed the archipelago into a central hub for the Atlantic migration route, a phenomenon that has continued to grow in scale and complexity over the last twenty years.