Barcelona (Spain), 10 June (LaPresse) – Between 1 January and 31 May 2026, 1,317 migrants died whilst attempting to reach the Spanish coast; 142 were women and 129 were children. During the same period, 27 boats disappeared with all passengers on board. This is according to a report by the Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras, which monitors casualties and human rights violations along the migration routes of the western Euro-African border. The report was published on the eve of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the Canary Islands. The Atlantic route, which connects the north-western coast of Africa to the Spanish archipelago, remains the deadliest along the border, with 635 victims. These figures show that, despite a 72% decrease in arrivals, the route has become more dangerous, explains the NGO. For every 100 people who arrived in 2025, around 14 died. In 2026, the figure rose to 21. The Algerian route recorded the highest number of tragedies during the period analysed, exceeding 507 deaths for the first time, representing a 54% increase compared to the same period the previous year.
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