The Hindu : International : 180 illegal migrants survive voyage in canoe

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Friday, Aug 03, 2007
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International

180 illegal migrants survive voyage in canoe

Giles Tremlett

Madrid: An unprecedented 180 African immigrants reached the Canary Islands in a single ocean-going canoe recently as new super-sized vessels began to be used in the perilous journey from Africa’s Atlantic coast.

The 180 Africans were picked up by a Spanish maritime rescue vessel off the island of Tenerife.

Massive new versions of the west African wooden fishing canoes known as cayucos are being built in Senegal and other countries as people traffickers seek to increase their returns on the lucrative route into Europe via the Canary Islands.

While these canoes routinely carried up to 50 persons, the new boats can transport more than 100 young Africans seeking a new life in Europe.

Another canoe carrying 149 persons arrived at the Canary Island of El Hierro. The large canoes have, however, proved to be no more seaworthy than their predecessors, many of which are known to have sunk while struggling to cross the stretch of Atlantic Ocean that separates the Canary Islands from Africa.

At least 50 persons are believed to have drowned 12 days ago when passengers on one boat panicked and capsized their own vessel as a Spanish patrol attempted to help them in heavy seas some 120 km from Tenerife. A further 48 immigrants survived the disaster. The migrants, who mainly hail from the west African country of Guinea-Bissau, later said that they had been at sea for 10 days.

It was the second worst single disaster on an immigration route that opened up three years ago after authorities in Morocco and the western Sahara closed down routes starting from their shores. —

Guardian Newspapers Limited 2007

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