Close to 50 000 Migrants to the Canary Islands in 2024 (TT)

More and more migrants are taking the so-called Atlantic route to the Spanish Canary Islands. Last year, a record 46 843 migrants arrived on the archipelago, according to official figures.

Spain has become a focus of migration to the EU as tighter controls around the Mediterranean force more people to find other routes.

But the route across the Atlantic from West Africa is both long and dangerous. Currents are strong and boats that get off course can drift for weeks or months.

Last year, more than 10 000 people died trying to reach the Canary Islands, according to the Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras.