Canary Islands will set up a cold tent in case of the possible discovery of missing migrants

The tragedy on Saturday, in which a cayuco capsized resulting in 9 deaths and 48 missing persons, continues to plague the Canary Island of El Hierro. Although Maritime Rescue personnel maintain the search operation, bad weather conditions are complicating the work. The spokesperson for the regional government, Alfonso Cabello, has stated that they are waiting for "the sea to facilitate the tasks." Meanwhile, he announced that they will set up a cold tent in anticipation of finding the bodies that have not yet been located. Specialists indicate that this could happen in "two or three days".

Cabello pointed out that this incident only accentuates the collapse that El Hierro island is experiencing, which has become the gateway to Spain. The situation is "very complex" and "an emergency on top of an emergency," he noted while estimating that 30,000 migrants have arrived through the Atlantic route to the archipelago so far this year. This, he indicated, represents an 85% increase compared to the same period last year.

The spokesperson for the Canary Islands Government stated that "it is probably the biggest drama and number of victims" they have been aware of in recent years. In this vein, he called for "mobilizing all" possible resources, noting that "if it means activating Frontex," they do not know what is being waited for to do so, "as well as all necessary economic resources."

This tragedy, already described as the worst in the last 30 years, occurred on Friday night at 00:15 (Canary time). At that moment, the Tenerife Rescue Center received a call alerting them of a cayuco in Canary waters carrying 84 people- of whom 27 were rescued, 9 bodies were found lifeless and there are 48 migrants still missing.

It was during rescue operations when the incident occurred. The occupants of the boat gathered on one side, according to Maritime Rescue reports, causing it to capsize. This situation was further aggravated due to the time it happened, as it was pitch dark and weather conditions included wind gusts of approximately 20 knots.