More than 500 migrants have been rescued in the Atlantic Ocean off the Canary Islands, the Spanish coast guard said on Saturday, as the number of people arriving in the archipelago this year approached the all-time record set in 2006. reports News.ro with reference to Reuters.

The Spanish coast guard said it also found two bodies among those recovered from four boats in the waters off El Hierro, the smallest and westernmost of the Canary Islands.

Two more people later died in hospital, said the Spanish Civil Guard, which was also involved in the operation, in which women and children were among those rescued.

Arrivals have increased recently as mild weather and calm seas in September have made the still dangerous ocean crossing from Africa more feasible.

Spain’s interior ministry announced on Thursday that a total of 30,705 undocumented migrants arrived in the Canary Islands in the first 10 months of this year, a 111% increase over the same period in 2022.

This number compares with the record 31,678 migrants reached in the Canary Islands in 2006, when other routes to Europe were blocked for an entire year.

The Canary Islands hosted most of the 43,290 undocumented migrants who arrived in Spain by sea last year.

The archipelago lies approximately 100 km from the west coast of Africa. Its seven islands have become a major destination for migrants from Senegal and other African countries trying to reach Spain, fleeing conflict or seeking a better life.

The Spanish government said it would create additional emergency accommodation for around 3,000 migrants in military barracks, hotels and guesthouses.