Migrants arriving in the Canary Islands, 30,705, close to exceeding those of the cayucos crisis, according to Interior data

   MADRID, 2 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) -

A total of 30,705 migrants have arrived in the Canary Islands in 2023, according to data from the Ministry of the Interior's balance sheet as of October 31, 2023, consulted by Europa Press and which confirms that the figure is close to exceeding that of the 'cayucos crisis in 2006', when 31,678 people arrived in the archipelago. Arrivals this year to the islands more than double (111.2%) those of the previous year at this time.

In total, 44,404 migrants have arrived in Spain irregularly so far this year, which represents an increase of 57.5% (16,208 more) compared to the same period last year.

In this way, 2023 becomes the second year since 1999 with the highest number of arrivals of migrants through irregular routes to Spain, only behind 2018, when a total of 57,498 people arrived on the Spanish coasts, in this case, the majority arrived on the Peninsula. During 2006, in the so-called 'cayuco crisis', a total of 39,180 people arrived, of which 31,678 arrived in the Canary Islands.

In the second half of October 2023, a total of 7,590 people entered irregularly through any of the routes, 2,684 less than in the first fifteen days of the month.

Specifically, entries by sea have grown by 65.7%, going from 26,129 between January 1 and October 31, 2022 to 43,290 in the same period of 2023, 17,161 more. However, the number of boats decreased, going from 1,518 to 1,449, 0.04% less.

The number of migrants who have arrived in the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands by sea has increased by 9.4%. Thus, this year 12,392 arrivals have been registered compared to 11,326 in 2022.

Likewise, the document reflects that the number of entries by sea to Melilla and Ceuta has decreased. In the first, it has gone from 144 to 133 arrivals, a lower 7.6%; while in Ceuta they have gone from 118 to 60 (-49.2%).

The number of irregular entries to Ceuta and Melilla by land is also reduced. Thus, between January 1 and October 31, 2023, a total of 1,114 migrants arrived through this route, 46.1% less than in the same period of 2022, when 2,067 entries were registered.

Specifically, a total of 969 migrants in an irregular situation have arrived in Ceuta by land, 62 more than in the same months of the previous year; and to Melilla, 145, 87.5% less than in the same period of 2022, when a total of 1,160 entries were recorded.