Hundreds of refugees arrive in the Canary Islands

Spanish archipelago Hundreds of refugees arrived in the Canary Islands As of: November 15, 2026 • 6:31 p.m

Around 1,500 migrants reached the Canary Islands within one day - a record number. The situation is particularly tense on the small island of El Hierro. The President of the Canary Islands called for help from Madrid.

Many refugees from West Africa have arrived on the Spanish Canary Islands within a short period of time. Within a day, around 1,500 people reached the islands - the highest number in 30 years of recording, as the Spanish state TV channel RTVE reported, citing the maritime rescue service.

According to RTVE, most people arrived on El Hierro - an island with a total population of just 12,000. There were 13 boats on Saturday and at least four more on Sunday. The situation there is tense - because the small island has been confronted with an influx of migrants for weeks. Since the beginning of the month, El Hierro had received more than 9,000 migrants in 91 boats.

More than 3,200 people reached the Canary Islands in the first five days of the month. more

At least 120 minors were among the new arrivals on Saturday, RTVE reported, citing authorities. A boat with around 200 refugees also reached Gran Canaria, and a smaller boat reached Tenerife. The migrants mainly come from Senegal, Gambia, Mauritania and Guinea.

Spanish media attribute the sharp increase in recent weeks to the worsening social and economic crisis in Senegal. Arrivals also tend to increase in the autumn months - sea conditions along the route are usually calmer and more favorable for crossings.

Crossings over the so-called Atlantic route have increased significantly - despite all the dangers. more

The Spanish government had already declared a migration policy emergency for the Canary Islands on Tuesday. The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, called for immediate implementation of the aid commitments agreed with Madrid. This includes additional accommodation, better medical care and faster transfers of migrants to other islands and mainland Spain.

The Canary Islands are one of the most important arrival points for migrants in Spain. People from West Africa in particular try to cross the Atlantic in boats that are often barely seaworthy. Between January and the end of October, more than 13,000 migrants arrived there - almost half of the 28,000 people who reached Spain by sea, according to the Interior Ministry.

The escape route is dangerous: According to the renowned Spanish aid organization "Caminando Fronteras", at least 635 people died in the first five months of this year trying to reach the archipelago around 100 kilometers off the northwest coast of Africa.

This topic in the program: The First | daily news | 11/15/2026 | 5:45 p.m