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Spain Searching For 143 Missing Migrants Near Canary Islands

Associated Press

   BARCELONA, SPAIN - Spain on Tuesday was searching for some 143 people
   missing on five migrant boats en route to the Canary Islands in the
   Atlantic Ocean, according to Spain's maritime rescue service.
   A Civil Guard plane was searching for the boats near the islands of
   Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, off the northwest coast of Africa, the
   service said.
   Authorities were alerted about the missing boats on Monday afternoon.
   Helena Maleno, of the human rights group Walking Borders, told The
   Associated Press the migrants, including women and children, are
   believed to have departed from the northwest coast of Africa between
   Friday and Saturday.
   Although the total number of sea crossings to Spain decreased by more
   than 50% in 2019, arrivals via the dangerous Atlantic route to the
   Canary Islands doubled. According to the International Organization for
   Migration at least 210 people died on that route last year.

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