About 80 confirmed dead after migrant boat gets into difficulty off Gran Canaria
At least 80 people are confirmed or feared dead after a migrant boat was found drifting south of Gran Canaria. The vessel, which carried over 100 people, departed from The Gambia and spent between 26 and 27 days at sea. Spanish Maritime Rescue Service recovered 44 survivors, three of whom remain in critical condition. While some reports confirm 80 deaths, other sources state five bodies have been recovered with dozens more missing. A baby is among those believed to have died during the voyage.
Listen to Live Briefing
Real-time synthesized voice briefing · Live Feeds Desk
- ✓ A migrant boat was found drifting south of Gran Canaria.
- ✓ The boat carried over 100 people.
- ✓ The vessel departed from The Gambia.
- ✓ 44 people were rescued from the boat.
What changed
Officials and news reports have increased the estimated death toll to approximately 80 people.
Live updates
-
About 80 dead after migrant boat drifts off Gran Canaria
At least 80 people are confirmed or feared dead after a migrant boat was found drifting south of Gran Canaria. The vessel, which carried over 100 people, departed from The Gambia and spent between 26 and 27 days at sea. Spanish Maritime Rescue Service recovered 44 survivors, three of whom remain in critical condition. While some reports confirm 80 deaths, other sources state five bodies have been recovered with dozens more missing. A baby is among those believed to have died during the voyage.
Why it matters
The route from West Africa to the Canary Islands is a perilous migration path. The use of small boats, known as cayucos, often leads to tragedies due to overcrowding and lack of supplies. This incident highlights the extreme durations migrants spend adrift in the Atlantic.
What is confirmed
- A migrant boat was found drifting south of Gran Canaria.
- The boat carried over 100 people.
- The vessel departed from The Gambia.
- 44 people were rescued from the boat.
- Three survivors are in critical condition in the hospital.
- At least five people are confirmed dead.
Still unconfirmed
- A baby is among the dead.
What to watch next
- Official confirmation of the final death toll from Spanish authorities
- Medical updates on the three survivors in critical condition
confidence 80%Sources used for this update (16)
- Sky News — About 80 confirmed dead after migrant boat gets into difficulty off Gran Canaria
- CNN — Dozens feared dead after migrant boat found drifting near Spain’s Canary Islands
- BBC — More than 80 migrants feared dead after boat rescued off Canary Islands
- NBC News — Dozens missing, 5 dead after migrant boat is found drifting near Spain’s Canary Islands
- Al Jazeera — Five killed, dozens more feared dead in boat adrift off Canary Islands
- The Times of India — Five African migrants dead after boat carrying over 100 people drifts for weeks in Atlantic Ocean
- The Times — Eighty feared dead after boat found adrift off Canary Islands
- Reuters — Five dead on migrant boat rescued off Canary Islands, aid group says toll may be higher
- The Independent — Baby among at least 80 feared dead after boat found adrift off Canary Islands following 26 days at sea
- People.com — Baby Among Over 80 People Believed Dead After Boat Adrift for 27 Days Is Found Near Canary Islands
- ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos — 80 dead, 44 rescued after boat found adrift off Canary Islands: Officials
- www.yahoo.com — Up to 80 people feared dead after migrant boat found drifting off Gran Canaria
Community Sentiment: How do you assess this situation?
Voice your perspective · Real-time aggregated sentiment from the Live Feeds community