A report released by the NGO Caminando Fronteras (Walking Borders) on Thursday revealed that at least 10,457 migrants died or went missing while attempting to reach Spain via the sea in 2024, marking a 58% increase compared to 2023. This is the highest number of fatalities recorded by the organization since it began tracking the data in 2007.
The report, which covers the period from January 1 to December 5, 2024, included 1,538 children and 421 women among the victims. This represents an average of 30 deaths per day, up from approximately 18 in 2023. The NGO collects data from hotlines used by migrants in distress, families of missing migrants, and official rescue statistics.
The group attributes the surge in deaths to the use of unsafe boats, increasingly perilous migration routes, and insufficient maritime rescue capacities. Helena Maleno, founder of Caminando Fronteras, called the situation a “profound failure of rescue and protection systems,” describing the over 10,400 deaths or disappearances as an “unacceptable tragedy.”
The victims came from 28 countries, primarily in Africa, but also from Iraq and Pakistan. The majority of the fatalities, 9,757, occurred along the Atlantic migration route to Spain’s Canary Islands, which has seen a record number of migrants for the second consecutive year.
The Canary Islands, located just 100 kilometers off the coast of North Africa, are a major entry point for migrants, with seven boats arriving on Christmas Day alone. The Atlantic route to the islands is particularly hazardous due to strong currents.
Spain, alongside Italy and Greece, remains one of the main European gateways for irregular migration. According to Spain’s interior ministry, 60,216 migrants entered Spain irregularly between January 1 and December 15, 2024, representing a 14.5% increase from the previous year, with over 70% of them landing in the Canaries.
