Canary Islands’ El Hierro declares emergency amid migrant, refugee influx

El Hierro has declared an emergency and asked Spain’s government for help after a sharp rise in people arriving by boat from West Africa. Local officials say the influx is straining accommodation, health services and transport on the small island, one of the main entry points to Europe on the Atlantic route.

More than 3,300 people arrived in about 30 boats in the first days of November, while rescue services reported rescuing 3,261 people across the Canary Islands in the first six days of the month. El Hierro has around 11,400 residents, and the regional leader said arrivals were nearing 2024 record levels. Although sea arrivals to Spain fell 5.5 per cent year on year to 13,327 between January and October, tougher patrols have shifted some departures further south, lengthening the journey; recent crossings have also been deadly.