80 migrants die in boat capsizing off Gran Canaria

About 80 people are confirmed dead after a migrant boat got into difficulty off the coast of Gran Canaria, Spain’s Maritime Rescue organisation has said.

The wooden boat, carrying around 160 people from West Africa, capsized late on Monday about 60 miles south of Gran Canaria. Rescuers pulled 83 survivors from the water but the death toll is expected to rise as search teams continue to look for more bodies. This is one of the deadliest migrant shipwrecks in the waters between West Africa and the Canary Islands this year.

The Canary Islands route has become increasingly deadly as European migration policies push people to take ever more dangerous journeys. In 2023, more than 6,000 people died or went missing on this route, according to the International Organization for Migration. Many boats leave from Senegal or Mauritania, often with flimsy vessels, limited supplies, and no trained crew. The Spanish government has stepped up patrols and rescues, but activists say the focus should be on safer, legal routes rather than just stopping boats at sea.

What happens next is unclear. Spain’s interior minister has promised a full investigation into the sinking, while humanitarian groups are calling for better search-and-rescue coordination and safer pathways for migrants. The tragedy comes just weeks after Spain and Senegal signed a new migration deal aimed at reducing irregular crossings. But with economic instability and climate pressures driving more people to leave West Africa, experts warn that deadly voyages will continue unless Europe changes its approach. For now, the focus is on recovering those lost and supporting the survivors, many of whom are in critical condition.