Surge in Migrant Crossings to Canary Islands Amid European Migration Concerns

MADRID – Spanish coast guards rescued 262 migrants in three boats trying to reach the Canary Islands in the early hours on Friday amid a surge in crossings, just as European leaders were meeting in Spain to look for ways to avoid a new migration crisis.

Italy and Spain have voiced concern over an increase in irregular immigration this year to their islands in the Mediterranean or in the Atlantic. Madrid has said it cannot cope with irregular immigration without help from the European Union.

Emergency services said they had brought 103 of the 262 rescued migrants to El Hierro, the westernmost and tiniest of the Canary Islands, which has received more than 1 200 migrants in the last six days alone.

The head of the Red Cross’ emergency unit in El Hierro, Inigo Vila, told reporters the organisation had to increase its resources to deal with the higher influx of people.

“We have reinforced our staff and equipment to be able to provide as much coverage as possible,” Vila said. “We have even reinforced with volunteer personnel from other islands that perhaps are not suffering the pressure El Hierro is suffering at the moment.”