• Seven migrants, including four women and three girls, drowned after a boat capsized in the Canary Islands.
• The vessel, reportedly carrying over 100 people, tipped as rescuers began evacuating minors.
• Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed deep concern over the tragedy and its implications.
• The Canary Islands are a key route for migrants, with nearly 47,000 arrivals recorded in 2024.
• The incident underlines the perilous nature of migration attempts across the Atlantic.

A migrant boat capsized shortly before reaching the port of La Restinga on Spain's Canary Islands, resulting in the tragic deaths of four women and three girls, according to emergency services. The vessel appeared to be overloaded, carrying "more than 100 people." Rescuers were in the midst of evacuating minors when the boat turned over, dumping its occupants into the Atlantic waters, as detailed by the local media and first responders on scene, including the Red Cross spokesman Alexis Ramos, who noted the perilous situation during the rescue operation, which took place off El Hierro's coast, according to Indiatimes, Al Jazeera, and Dawn.

The capsizing occurred as the boat was about to be moored, with eyewitness accounts noting that the situation became chaotic when numerous passengers crowded to one side. A rapid response involved a helicopter airlifting two children who nearly drowned to a hospital in Tenerife for critical care. This tragic incident underlines the ongoing crises faced by migrants attempting the treacherous journey to Europe, a struggle exacerbated in recent years as more people opt for the risky Atlantic route due to tightened Mediterranean borders, as reported by Indiatimes, Africanews, and Dawn.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that "the drama witnessed on El Hierro should move us all" reflecting on the loss of life in the pursuit of a better future. The archipelago has seen a significant number of migrant arrivals, with nearly 47,000 documented in 2024 alone. This rising trend highlights the unsustainable pressures on the islands and the urgent need for a more coordinated response to manage migration effectively, according to Al Jazeera, Africanews, and Dawn.