• More than 80 migrants are feared dead after a boat was rescued near the Canary Islands.
• Five bodies were found aboard the vessel, which had been adrift for 27 days.
• 44 survivors, including three in critical condition, were rescued from the boat.
• The tragedy raises urgent concerns over migration policies in Spain.
• Efforts to curb migrant journeys have resulted in a significant decrease in arrivals to the Canary Islands.

More than 80 people, including a baby, are feared dead from a migrant boat that was adrift in the Atlantic Ocean for 27 days. The vessel, which originated from The Gambia, was located approximately 65 nautical miles southwest of Gran Canaria, leading to the rescue of 44 survivors, who are men from sub-Saharan Africa, according to BBC.

Rescue operations revealed five dead bodies on board, but adverse weather conditions hindered their retrieval. Human rights activist Helena Maleno Garzón, founder of the charity Caminando Fronteras, claims that survivors informed her that the death toll may rise to 83, which includes three women and a baby, as reported by Reuters and Al Jazeera.

The incident highlights the ongoing risks faced by migrants attempting the perilous journey across the Atlantic, deemed as one of the deadliest migration routes globally. Spain's regional leader, Fernando Clavijo, has called for an urgent reassessment of the migration policy, stating, “It is intolerable that lives continue to be lost,” according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

The Atlantic route, from West Africa to the Canary Islands, has seen a significant decline in crossings this year, with arrivals dropping by 57.4% compared to last year, as per official statistics. This reduction is attributed to enhanced patrols and coordination with migrant origin countries, indicating a complex interplay of enforcement and humanitarian considerations per BBC, Reuters, and Al Jazeera.