Spain’s Maritime Rescue Service (Salvamento Marítimo) has assisted 854 migrants aboard seven small, open motorised fishing vessels in waters off the Canary Island of El Hierro since the early hours of Friday morning. The boats were escorted to the harbour of La Restinga, in the municipality of El Pinar, where those on board received medical attention — Euronews reports.
Of those brought ashore, 350 were transferred to Tenerife on the scheduled morning ferry service. The Spanish authorities are planning to relocate a further 350 migrants to ease pressure on reception facilities on El Hierro.
Several of those rescued required hospital treatment. Nine people remain at Nuestra Señora de los Reyes Hospital after arriving on El Hierro aboard different vessels in recent days, suffering from various health problems.
The rescue operation involved three Salvamento Marítimo vessels: Salvamar Navia, Diphda and Mizar. The first intervention took place four miles from the port of La Restinga, where the first boat was located. Salvamar Navia escorted it to the quay with 134 people on board.
The remaining boats arrived at staggered intervals throughout Friday morning. The second cayuco docked carrying 174 people, followed by a third vessel just 15 minutes later with 166 migrants on board.
Following initial medical and humanitarian assistance, the migrants were transferred to the Temporary Foreign Nationals Reception Centre (CATE) in San Andrés, in the municipality of Valverde. There, they will receive support from the NGO Corazón Naranja-Ebrima Sonko and remain in police custody pending their transfer to other reception facilities outside El Hierro.
