More than 80 migrants feared dead after boat rescued off Canary Islands

What the report says

Spanish Maritime Rescue teams have found a migrant boat adrift in the Atlantic off Gran Canaria after what BBC World News said was a 27-day journey from West Africa. The vessel was located about 65 nautical miles southwest of Arguineguín, and rescuers reported 44 survivors on board along with five bodies. The people found alive were described as men from sub-Saharan Africa, and three were flown to hospital in critical condition.

According to the BBC report, the boat is believed to have left The Gambia in early August with 127 people on board, though rescuers said they could not confirm the original number. A human rights activist, Helena Maleno Garzón of the charity Caminando Fronteras, said 83 people were feared dead. Bad weather prevented the recovery of the five bodies, with Maritime Rescue citing rough seas, strong winds and high waves as the reason they had to leave them behind temporarily.

The incident highlights the danger of the Atlantic migration route to the Canary Islands, which remains one of the deadliest sea crossings for people trying to reach Spanish territory. The BBC also reported that the remaining survivors were taken to Gran Canaria, where they arrived early on Thursday. Regional leader Fernando Clavijo called the deaths intolerable and urged that the Atlantic not be accepted as a place where such losses become routine.