Overview
- Spain’s maritime rescue service coordinated the transfer of 55 people to Arrecife after a merchant vessel spotted an inflatable about 83 kilometers east of Lanzarote.
- Several occupants jumped into the sea to try to reach the merchant ship, which pulled two from the water as Guardamar Polimnia recovered another and brought the rest aboard around 1:26 a.m. local time.
- Authorities are searching for missing passengers with the merchant vessel, Guardamar Polimnia, helicopter Helimer 215 and aircraft Sasemar 103, while counts vary between at least two and as many as five based on survivor accounts and media reports.
- New arrivals on the Canary route continued with 28 people brought to El Hierro and 51 to Lanzarote by Salvamar Acrux, part of a short burst that exceeded 500 arrivals in two days.
- Separately, the Italian Coast Guard reported a capsized boat southeast of Lampedusa with roughly 20 people missing, one confirmed dead and rescue support from Maltese authorities, a merchant ship and a Frontex aircraft.