Deadliest of Journeys: The Canary Islands Migrant Route's Grim Toll The latest tragedy off Spain's Canary Islands serves as a stark reminder of the unforgiving nature of the migrant route that has become one of the world's most deadly in recent years.
A boat carrying over 100 people, mostly from Gambia, was found adrift after 26 days at sea, leaving at least 80 feared dead and five bodies recovered.
The western Africa to Canary Islands migrant route has seen a staggering 480% rise in fatalities between 2019 and 2025, with over 1,000 lives lost in just six years.