55 dead on Canarian route

At least 55 migrants have died on route to the Canaries over the past weekend.

On Saturday afternoon a boat carrying 10 migrants was rescued near El Hierro, with survivors claiming that another 48 passengers had died and been thrown into the sea.

The following day, on Sunday, an inflatable boat sank 90 kilometres north-east of Lanzarote with Maritime Rescue recovering five dead bodies.

In another incident, a woman drowned after falling into the sea from a dinghy that was deflating. Two survivors were also rescued from the sea and 54 who had remained on the boat.  Meanwhile, a migrant in El Hierro’s hospital died after his crossing.

Recent calm weather has caused an increase in arrivals of pateras, with the rescues of 31 vessels containing almost 1,900 people taking place over the last few days.