More than 1,300 migrants died attempting to reach Spanish coast in first five months of 2026, NGO reports
An advocacy group called Caminando Fronteras reported that 1,317 migrants died trying to reach the Spanish coast during the first five months of 2026, including 142 women and 129 children. The deaths occur as migrants take increasingly dangerous Atlantic routes to avoid detection, with efforts to stop crossings intensifying in countries like Mauritania. The report comes ahead of Pope Leo's visit to the Canary Islands, where he has emphasized the ethical implications of migration policy.
According to Caminando Fronteras (Walking Borders), an advocacy group that tracks migration crossings, 1,317 people died attempting to reach the Spanish coast between January and May 2026, including 27 boats that disappeared entirely. The deaths represent part of a broader migration crisis affecting Spain's Canary Islands, which have experienced a surge in irregular migration over the past decade. Rights groups attribute the rising death toll to migrants taking longer and riskier Atlantic Ocean routes to avoid detection as enforcement efforts intensify in transit countries like Mauritania. The shortest distance from the Canary Islands to the West African coast is approximately 100 kilometers, while the Morocco-to-Spain crossing is roughly 20 kilometers. In 2025, 3,090 people lost their lives or disappeared attempting the same journey. Pope Leo's current visit to Spain has focused on the humanitarian treatment of migrants and the ethical challenges posed by migration policy.
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- The Straits TimesCenter
More than 1,300 migrants have died trying to reach the Spanish coast in 2026, says NGO
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