A total of 278 people have been rescued between Sunday night and Monday morning off the coast of Lanzarote. This was reported by the Emergency Coordination Center. In total and until 11.30 am, six boats have been rescued. Meanwhile, the Salvamar is searching for a seventh that has not been located so far.
"We had a much quieter September than we expected, now it's not something that catches us off guard", said the manager of the Security and Emergency Consortium in statements to Radio Lanzarote - Onda Cero.
Last year 2022, migratory flows to the Canary Islands were also higher in September. Therefore, those responsible for the rescues were also on alert in this year. Since Sunday night, a precarious boat arrived on the island with 53 people.
Seven people missing
On Sunday evening, a second boat capsized. In this case, a joint collaboration between a Moroccan fishing vessel Maranda and the Guardamar Polimnia, culminated in the rescue of 41 people. However, the survivors warned of the disappearance at sea of seven migrants. Among them, three men, three women and a four-year-old child.
"Between the Alawi fishing vessel and the patrol boat they tried to catch them, to rescue everyone. When they got ashore they realized that people were missing", says Espinosa.
The rest of the boats
The Polimnia assisted another 50 men and one woman of Maghreb and sub-Saharan origin located in another pneumatic boat 81 kilometers from Arrecife, whom they also transferred to the capital of Lanzarote.
Throughout the early morning, around 2.00 am, a patera with 32 people of Maghreb origin arrived on their own means to Puerto Naos. This became the third boat assisted this Sunday.
Shortly after, a fourth notice was received about the presence of a barge near the coast. In this case, 43 people were traveling. This last one has been rescued by the Salvamar Al Nair, with 42 men and one woman on board, all of Maghreb origin.
After them, two more pneumatic boats were intercepted near Lanzarote. On Monday morning, around 9.25 am, Maritime Rescue assisted 49 people in a fifth boat and 60 people in a sixth.
For the moment, the search for a seventh barge continues.
The men rescued on the route are transferred to the CATE of Arrecife, while women, children and families are moved to a center in Argana.
