300 People Missing As Leaving Senegal for Spain on 3 Rickety Boats

Spanish media reported that at least 300 people who sailed on three boats from Senegal to the Spanish Canary Islands are missing.

A spokeswoman for the "Walking Borders" refugee relief organization said, "At least 300 people who were boarding three boats from Senegal to the Spanish Canary Islands are missing."

The spokeswoman stated that two boats, one carrying about 65 people and the other carrying 50 to 60 people, had been missing for 15 days after they left Senegal in an attempt to reach Spain.

On the other hand, Carolina Darías, Spanish Minister of Regional Policy, said that Madrid would expand the scope of naval patrols around the Canary Islands and would establish more migrant centers to cope with the increase in arrivals from Africa.

The minister added that the security forces would add at least three ocean-going ships, an airplane, a helicopter, and a submarine to the existing fleet, which monitors the waters between the west coast of Africa and the Canary Islands group.