A luxury cruise ship saves 68 migrants from drowning on the open sea near the Canary Islands. Unfortunately, help came too late for six people.
According to CNN reports, a luxury cruise ship rescued 68 migrants drifting off the Spanish Canary Islands on Wednesday. The merchant ship Philipp Oldendorff had discovered a canoe-shaped boat with people on board drifting about 815 kilometers south of Tenerife. The crew provided first aid while the cruise ship Insignia was sent to the scene of the accident.
The ship “Insignia”, which belongs to Oceania Cruises, was able to rescue a total of 68 people and recover three bodies. Two other bodies could not be recovered due to bad weather conditions. Another rescued migrant was in critical condition and died before a search and rescue helicopter could reach the site.
According to the Insignia, those rescued included 62 men, three women and three minors from sub-Saharan Africa, according to CNN.
In an email to CNN, a spokesperson for Oceania Cruises stressed that the cruiser “Insignia” provided the people with food, drinks and clothing before the migrants could recover. The rescue ships then coordinated the next steps with the authorities in Tenerife, who will now take over the care of the rescued people, CNN added.
According to the Spanish Interior Ministry, Spain, and especially the Canary Islands, has seen a drastic increase in the number of migrants arriving in Spanish territory by boat. Between January 1 and June 15, according to CNN, around 23,037 migrants arrived in Spain by sea, an increase of 122.6 percent compared to the previous year. Of these, 18,977 reached the Canary Islands by sea – an increase of 220.9 percent.
The Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras reported earlier this month that at least 5,000 migrants had died trying to reach Spain between January and May this year – an average of 33 people per day.
The authorities in the Canary Islands have been struggling with the high level of immigration to the Spanish islands for years. Thousands of refugees who come via one of the world’s deadliest escape routes are usually housed in makeshift accommodation after their arrival.
The port of Arguineguín on Gran Canaria is particularly affected, where, at a peak in migration in 2021, around two thousand refugees had to spend the night in a camp that was actually only designed for 500 people. The conditions there were unacceptable and unhygienic, reports Human Rights Watch.
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