Early this morning, at around 6:00 a.m., the maritime rescue vessel Salvamar Diphda brought a cayuco carrying 145 migrants to the port of La Restinga, in the municipality of El Pinar, on the island of El Hierro in Spainโs Canary Islands.
The boat was intercepted less than one nautical mile from the island. Upon arrival, the migrants received assistance from medical personnel and emergency response teams. One person was transferred to Nuestra Seรฑora de los Reyes Island Hospital for medical treatment.
According to information provided by medical and emergency services, the group consisted of 145 people of sub-Saharan African origin, mostly men, including five women and eight minors.
Several emergency and security services responded at the port, including the Red Cross Immediate Emergency Response Team (ERIE), the Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC), La Restinga port surveillance personnel, the Civil Guard, and the National Police.
The migrants reported that they had spent nine days at sea after departing from Niodior, Senegal. Those on board were nationals of Senegal, The Gambia, Mali, and Guinea-Conakry.
Their arrival highlights the dangers faced by people undertaking long and often perilous sea journeys in search of safety and better opportunities in Europe.
By Ebrima migrant situation
Picture by salvamento Maritimo
