Nearly 1,500 migrants arrive in British tourist hotspot in single day

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A total of 1,488 people travelling on 14 boats were rescued by the Spanish coastguards on the Canary Islands, where thousands of Brits flock each year on holiday.

Published: 11:12 GMT, 15 November 2026 | Updated: 11:38 GMT, 15 November 2026

Almost 1,500 migrants arrived in the Canary Islands over the weekend as Spain's crisis continues to spiral.

A total of 1,488 people travelling on 14 boats were rescued by the Spanish coastguards in the region, where thousands of Brits flock each year on holiday.

It marked the highest number of migrants to have made the crossing on a single day in six years, when 1,461 people were rescued in waters off the islands in November 2020.

A single boat rescued on Saturday was carrying some 240 people, including 12 women and 36 children, according to local authorities.

Those rescued - most of whom were from Senegal, Gambia and Guinea Conakry - were taken to El Hierro, a small island which declared a state of emergency last week following a surge in migrant arrivals.

Twelve boats arrived on the island, while one other was taken to Gran Canaria and a further vessel in Tenerife.

The Atlantic route from West Africa to the Canary Islands is one of the world's deadliest migration crossings.

Thousands attempt the journey each year in overcrowded boats, seeking to reach Spanish territory despite rough seas, strong currents and long distances.

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