Migrant arrivals surge in Canary Islands via Atlantic route

The Canary Islands are experiencing a significant increase in migrant arrivals. On October 22, 2026, between 415 and 435 people arrived at the port of La Restinga on the island of El Hierro. The arrivals involved four traditional vessels, known as “cayucos,” which were intercepted or reached the coast following perilous journeys from West and Sub-Saharan Africa.

One vessel carrying 62 people arrived autonomously after a seven-day journey from Saint-Louis, Senegal. Other boats were intercepted by surveillance systems and guided to port by rescue ships. One such boat, which departed from Tanji, Gambia, carried 190 passengers.

In a related development, the Mauritanian Coast Guard intercepted a vessel containing 191 migrants, including 17 minors, off its coast. The occupants included individuals from Senegal, Guinea, Gambia, Mauritania, and Côte d'Ivoire.

International Organization for Migration (IOM) data indicates that approximately 6,400 people have died or gone missing on this Atlantic maritime route since 2014, making it one of the deadliest migration paths in the region.