Canary Islands migrant arrivals triple in early October

Migrant arrivals in the Canary Islands have seen a sharp recent increase, with 1,837 people arriving via small boats during the first 15 days of October. This figure nearly triples the 643 arrivals recorded during the same period in the previous year.

Despite this recent surge, the overall number of irregular entries to the Canary Islands since January 1 remains down by 33.5% compared to the same period last year. Across Spain, irregular entries have decreased by 5.9% year-to-date, excluding specific mass arrival events in July.

To manage the pressure on local infrastructure, Spanish authorities have implemented logistical measures to redistribute arrivals. This includes the transfer of 152 male migrants from El Hierro to southern Tenerife to prevent the saturation of reception centers and ensure capacity for future arrivals via the Atlantic route.