Over 10,000 dead on the way to Spain: tragedy in the Atlantic!

Over 10,000 dead on the way to Spain: tragedy in the Atlantic!

A shattering balance: Over 10,000 migrants lost their lives on their way to Spain this year!

A shocking report by the Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras reveals the dark reality of migration: over 10,000 migrants died on the dangerous sea route to Spain this year - this has been the highest number since the beginning of the records in 2007! This frightening statistics means that an average of 30 people lost their lives daily, while in the hope of a better life they crossed the dangerous waters.

The number of deaths rose by alarming 58 percent compared to the previous year! The NGO reports that most of the 10,457 deaths documented by December 15th took place on the notorious Atlantic route - one of the most dangerous sea routes in the world. This route is increasingly being used by migrants that break from West Africa to the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago that serves as a springboard to Europe.

The terrifying circumstances

The organization Caminando Fronteras has put together the terrifying numbers from the reports of migrant families and official rescue statistics. There are 1,538 children and 421 women among the victims. The months of April and May were particularly fatal, which underlines the urgency of the situation.

The NGO blames the use of dilapidated and the increasingly dangerous routes, as well as the insufficient capacity of the sea rescue services that have led to this increase in deaths. Helena Maleno, the founder of the organization, expressed herself in horror: "These numbers are proof of a profound failure of the rescue and protection systems. More than 10,400 dead or missing in one year are an unacceptable tragedy!"

The victims come from 28 countries, mainly from Africa, but also from Iraq and Pakistan. Many migrants, including women, experience violence, discrimination, racism and sexual assault before they leave, while they have to survive under extreme conditions.

a worrying trend

The NGO also recorded a "dramatic increase" of the boats, which made Mauritania in 2024, which established itself as the main departure on the way to the Canary Islands. On Wednesday, Christmas Day, seven migrant boats landed in the archipelago, as the Spanish sea rescue service on the social platform X announced.

In February, Spain had promised 210 million euros ($ 218 million) to help for Mauritania in order to act against human smugglers and prevent the withdrawal of boats. At their next point, the Canary Islands are only 100 km from the North African coast, with the shortest route between the coastal city of Tarfaya in southern Morocco and the island of Fuerteventura. But the Atlantic route is particularly dangerous because strong currents make the crossing a fatal undertaking.