At least 300 migrants go missing at sea off the Spanish Canary Islands

The Spanish Maritime Rescue Service has been looking for a small boat for several days

At least 300 people who traveled on Three boats with migrants from Senegal on The Spanish Canary Islands have disappeared, migrant aid group Walking Borders said on Sunday.

Two boats, one carrying about 65 people and the other between 50 and 60 on board, have gone missing. within 15 days since they left Senegal to try to reach Spain, Walking Borders' Helena Maleno told Reuters.

A third boat left Senegal on June 27 with about 200 people on board.

p>

According to Ms. Maleno, the relatives of those on board have not heard from them since they sailed.

All three boats left Cafontin in southern Senegal, which is about 1057 miles from Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands.

“Families are very worried. There are about 300 people from the same region of Senegal. They left because of instability in Senegal,” Ms Maleno said.

The Canary Islands off the coast of West Africa have become a major destination for migrants trying to reach Spain. cross the Mediterranean to the Spanish mainland. Summer is the busiest period for all attempts to cross the border.

The Atlantic migration route, one of the deadliest in the world, is commonly used by migrants from sub-Saharan Africa.

At least , According to the UN International Organization for Migration, 559 people, including 22 children, died trying to reach the Canary Islands in 2022.