Two dead after eight-day sea crossing to El Hierro

A man and a baby have died after an eight-day journey from Gambia to the port of La Restinga in El Hierro. The deceased were among 113 people on board a cayuco when the vessel was located approximately 68 kilometers south of the island.

Emergency services, including the Salvamar Navia and the Helimer 204 helicopter, responded to distress calls. During the rescue, a two-year-old girl was evacuated in serious condition to the El Hierro Hospital. The remaining 110 survivors, which include eight women and eight minors, received medical assistance from the Canary Islands Health Service and the Red Cross.

This incident follows a significant increase in migration attempts toward the Canary Islands, with provisional counts indicating over 4,000 people arrived during the month of October.