Canary Islands Tragedy: Hopes Fade for 48 Missing Migrants

Authorities have little hope of finding any of the 48 migrants missing after their boat sank near El Hierro, Spain. Nine people, including a child, have been confirmed dead. The incident could become the deadliest in 30 years of crossings from Africa to the Canary Islands.

Hopes of finding any of the 48 migrants missing since their boat sank near the Spanish island of El Hierro are diminishing, authorities said on Sunday. The incident threatens to become the deadliest in 30 years of crossings from Africa to the Canary Islands. Nine people, including a child, have been confirmed dead since the boat sank in the early hours of Saturday morning, according to emergency and rescue services.

Rescue efforts are ongoing, with three patrol boats and three helicopters involved, but authorities remain pessimistic about finding any survivors. 'Unfortunately, we presume the worst. The search goes on, but it seems that the chances of finding someone alive are slim,' stated a spokeswoman for the Canary Islands government.

The migrants, from Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal, were part of a larger trend of increasing crossings from West Africa. Data from the EU's Frontex agency shows a 154% increase in such crossings from January to July compared to the same period last year. Nine of the deceased migrants will be buried early this week as hopes of locating more survivors continue to fade.

(With inputs from agencies.)