Canary Islands’ El Hierro declares emergency amid migrant, refugee influx

Authorities on El Hierro in Spain’s Canary Islands have declared an emergency and asked Madrid for help after more than 3,300 migrants and refugees arrived in about 30 boats since the start of November. The island has roughly 11,400 residents and is seeking temporary accommodation, while hospital conditions have become “undesirable,” island council head Alpidio Armas said. Maritime rescue services rescued 3,261 people off the Canary Islands in the first six days of the month. Regional leader Fernando Clavijo said arrivals were nearing 2024 record levels and described the situation as “absolutely unsustainable.”