In 2024, at least 46,843 people reached Spain’s Canary Islands, one of Europe’s main entry points for irregular migration across the Atlantic, according to the country’s interior ministry. This marks a continued surge in migration across the perilous route, with the total number of arrivals to Spain through irregular paths rising to 63,970, compared to 56,852 in 2023.
The Atlantic route, which stretches from West Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands, has become the deadliest migration corridor in the world. The increase in arrivals is compounded by a growing number of fatalities, as the journey is fraught with danger, including overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels, treacherous waters, and limited search-and-rescue operations.
The European Union’s border agency Frontex highlighted a troubling trend in 2024, noting a 19 percent increase in irregular crossings along the Atlantic route. Despite an overall 40 percent drop in irregular border entries to the EU from January to November 2024, the Atlantic route saw a rise in attempts by migrants, primarily from countries such as Mali, Senegal, and Morocco. These nations, struggling with ongoing conflicts, high unemployment, and the effects of climate change on agriculture, have seen many of their citizens embark on perilous journeys in hopes of reaching Europe for better opportunities.
The Atlantic crossing is not only one of the longest and most dangerous migration routes, but also one of the deadliest. On the heels of this increase, a tragic incident occurred last week when at least 69 people, including 25 Malians, died after their boat capsized off the coast of Morocco while attempting to reach the Canary Islands. This event was part of a broader, more disturbing pattern. According to a report by the NGO Caminando Fronteras, at least 10,457 migrants perished or went missing while attempting to reach Spain via sea between January 1 and December 5, 2024—a grim 50 percent increase from the previous year and the highest toll since the organization began tracking migrant deaths in 2007.
The surge in migrant deaths has been attributed to several factors, including the use of dilapidated boats, unpredictable and hazardous waters, and inadequate resources for search and rescue operations. Humanitarian groups have increasingly criticized European governments for what they see as a prioritization of immigration control over the protection of human lives. The migrant aid group Walking Borders has specifically condemned the European Union for its approach, accusing governments of criminalizing migrants and failing to take meaningful action to prevent drownings.
The escalating crisis underscores the complex challenges surrounding migration in the Mediterranean and Atlantic regions. While economic, social, and environmental factors push migrants to risk their lives for a better future, the lack of coordinated efforts to ensure safe passages has exacerbated the dangers they face. Aid organizations and human rights groups continue to call for comprehensive changes to migration policies and stronger protections for vulnerable individuals making the treacherous journey to Europe.
As the death toll continues to rise, calls for accountability and a rethinking of migration policies in the EU are becoming more urgent, with advocates urging governments to place the right to life above restrictive border controls.
