Two dead in a canoe south of El Hierro

Rescue of 133 migrants, including two dead, in Canary waters aboard two vessels

Around 133 migrants were rescued in the last hours in Canary waters, according to the Maritime Rescue Service and the Canary Islands Emergency and Security Coordination Center (112).

• First vessel – rescued by Maritime Rescue late Wednesday, about four nautical miles (7.4 km) south of Gran Canaria.

  • The migrants were taken to the Arguineguín dock in Mogán, where the Canary Emergency Service (SUC), primary‑care staff and the Red Cross confirmed they were generally in good condition, requiring only light hospital transfers.

• Second vessel – intercepted by the patrol boat Urania at 00:55 Canary time. It was carrying 108 Sub‑Saharan migrants, including 20 women and three minors.

  • The rescue occurred 148 nautical miles (274 km) southeast of El Hierro, coordinated by the Las Palmas Rescue Control Center and the Las Palmas Maritime Authority.
  • During the operation one person was already dead; another in critical condition later died as well.
  • The Urania is expected to dock at Arguineguín around midnight on Thursday due to adverse weather.

The operation also involved the vessel SARAH M, which initially located the canoe, and the bulk carrier EUROSTAR, which stayed alongside the canoe until the patrol boat arrived – a contribution praised by Maritime Rescue.