Canada Global (Web News) In 2024, at least 10,457 migrants died or went missing attempting to reach Spain by sea, marking a 58% rise compared to 2023 and the highest toll since records began in 2007, according to the migrant rights group Caminando Fronteras.
Among the victims were 1,538 children and 421 women, averaging 30 deaths daily, up from 18 per day in the previous year.
The NGO attributed the surge to the use of unsafe boats, more perilous routes, and inadequate rescue operations. Most fatalities—9,757—occurred on the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands, which saw record migrant arrivals for the second consecutive year.
The islands, located about 100 kilometers from North Africa, are reached via a dangerous crossing with strong currents.
The victims hailed from 28 countries, primarily in Africa, but also included individuals from Iraq and Pakistan. From January to mid-December 2024, Spain saw 60,216 irregular migrant arrivals, a 14.5% increase from the previous year, with over 70% landing in the Canaries.
