Nearly 3,000 migrants reach Spain’s El Hierro since October began
Maritime rescue services reported that more than 400 people arrived on four boats on October 22, as some residents voiced concern about local resources.
Spain’s Canary island of El Hierro has received nearly 3,000 migrants since October began, with arrivals increasing sharply on the Atlantic migration route. The island has around 11,000 residents.
Boats continue to reach La Restinga port. Maritime rescue services said four vessels that left the African coast brought more than 400 people to the island on October 22.
Some residents have expressed concern about the strain on infrastructure and resources. Luis Andres Gonzalez, who owns a bar at the port, said arrivals had reached 500 on some days and questioned how the island would cope.
Migration has also become a prominent issue in Spain’s political debate. Opposition criticism of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s migration policy followed the mass arrival of migrants from Morocco in Ceuta in July.
