A luxury cruise ship came to the rescue of 68 migrants who were found drifting off the Spanish Canary Islands on Wednesday. The maritime rescue agency of Spain reported that the bulk carrier Philipp Oldendorff first spotted a canoe-shaped boat adrift with people on board approximately 440 nautical miles south of Tenerife. The crew of Philipp Oldendorff provided initial aid to those affected while the passenger ship Insignia, owned by Oceania Cruises, was dispatched to the area.
The Insignia successfully rescued a total of 68 individuals and recovered three bodies from the distressed boat. Unfortunately, due to adverse weather conditions, the remains of two individuals could not be retrieved. Tragically, one of the rescued migrants was in critical condition and passed away before a search and rescue helicopter could reach him.
The rescued group comprised 62 men, three women, and three minors, all hailing from sub-Saharan Africa. The Oceania Cruises spokesperson emphasized the importance of safety at sea and confirmed that the Insignia provided medical assistance, food, drinks, clothing, and a safe place to rest for the rescued individuals. Coordination with authorities in Tenerife was made for the further care of the migrants.
The 670-guest Insignia is currently on its 180-day Around-The-World cruise. Data from Spain’s Interior Ministry revealed a significant surge in the number of migrants arriving by sea, particularly to the Canary Islands. Between January and mid-June, over 23,000 migrants have arrived in Spain by sea, marking a 122.6% increase compared to the same period last year. Notably, nearly 19,000 of these arrivals were to the Canary Islands, showing a 220.9% rise from the previous year.
Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras recently reported a distressing statistic, stating that at least 5,000 migrants have lost their lives while attempting to reach Spain between January and May this year, averaging to 33 fatalities per day.
