The number of people from west Africa who braved the sea in boats to reach Spain’s Canary Islands jumped more than 1,000% in January from a year before, according to data released by the country’s interior ministry.
A total of 7,270 people reached the archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean between 1 January and 31 January, a nearly 13-fold increase from 566 people in the same month in 2023, the ministry said on Thursday.
The chain of islands off Africa’s north-west coast, one of Spain’s most popular tourist destinations, was the entry point for 39,910 people last year, an all-time record.
El Hierro, the smallest and westernmost island, received more migrants than its own population of 9,000 in 2023.
According to an annual report by the rights group Walking Borders, the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands is the deadliest migration route to Spain, with 6,007 people dying during the risky sea voyage last year.
The total number of people who entered Spain by irregular means in January – by land and sea – was 8,067, a 524% increase compared with a year ago, the ministry added.
