236 Migrants Rescued from Drifting Canoe 232 Miles South of Gran Canaria

The Maritime Rescue Service rescued early Sunday morning 236 migrants from a canoe that was located on Saturday drifting and without a motor, 232 miles south of the island of Gran Canaria.

The state agency reports that yesterday morning the National Maritime Rescue Center received an alert from the vessel Teos, which reported the presence of a canoe stopped alongside with numerous people aboard.

While the vessel proceeded to secure the boat with a rope, it requested assistance, as it did not consider it safe to continue operations. The canoe no longer had a motor and was adrift.

Consequently, the Maritime Rescue Center in Las Palmas mobilized the coast‑guard vessel Urania, which at 02:15 a.m. on Sunday rescued the 236 people on board the canoe—sub‑Saharan men, women and children.

At present, the coast‑guard Urania, with all rescued persons on board, is heading to the port of Arguineguín, where it is expected to arrive around 15:15 p.m. on Sunday.

Among the rescued migrants, all of sub‑Saharan origin, there were children and women.