In brief

• Nearly 2,200 migrants reached the Canary Islands over the weekend, Spain's coastguard said.
• Local authorities declared a migration emergency earlier this week.
• Total arrivals through October were about 6 percent lower than a year earlier.
• Local leaders are calling on Madrid to act.

Arrivals continue after emergency declaration

Nearly 2,200 migrants reached the Canary Islands over the weekend, according to Spain's coastguard, which reported the figure on Sunday (Nearly 2,200 migrants reach Spain's Canary Islands in two days – France 24) (Canaries urge government action after 2,200 migrants reach the islands in 48h – France 24). The arrivals followed a sharp rise in boats leaving West Africa in recent weeks (Spanien - Fast 2.200 Migranten erreichen die Kanarischen Inseln – Deutschlandfunk).

Authorities declare emergency

Most of the boats were intercepted near El Hierro, the smallest of the main islands, where rescue vessels towed wooden fishing boats into port at La Restinga on Saturday (How did over 2,000 migrants reach the Canaries in just 48 hours? – France 24).

Smaller total than last year

Despite the recent jump, total arrivals to the Canaries remain below last year's level. Through October, the number of migrants reaching the islands was nearly 6 percent below the same stretch of the previous year.

A dangerous route

The Atlantic crossing from West Africa to the Canaries is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world. Rescue operations on Saturday focused on wooden boats that set out from the African coast with large numbers of people on board.

Calls for national action

Local leaders in the Canaries have called on the central government in Madrid to take action to handle the arrivals, including support for reception facilities on the islands. No national measures had been announced at the time of reporting.

Read also

• Canary Route Sees Surge in Arrivals: 1,021 People Since Thursday Night, Over 3,200 in November
• Record day for Canary Islands: nearly 1,500 migrants reach El Hierro in 24 hours