Spain’s Canary Islands see more than 1,600 migrant arrivals over weekend

By Senhan Bolelli

MADRID (AA) – Hundreds of migrants from Africa arrived on Spain’s Canary Islands by small boats over the weekend, according to officials on Monday.

There has been a significant increase recently in the number of irregular immigrants from North Africa arriving at the coasts of the Canary Islands group, especially El Hierro and the Greater Canary Islands.

On Oct. 21-22, at least 1,606 irregular immigrants arrived on the islands in different groups, according to the Canary Islands administration.

Some 320 migrants reached the coast of El Hierro on Saturday, marking the highest number of migrants in a boat since 1994.

A total of 8,561 irregular immigrants arrived on the shores of the Canary Islands in the first half of October alone, according to the Spanish Interior Ministry.

The autonomous government of the Canary Islands sought urgent help over the issue and blamed the Spanish central government and the EU for the crisis.