The Spanish Coast Guard rescued three people stowed on the rudder of a ship arriving in the Canary Islands from Nigeria.
A photo distributed by the Coast Guard on Monday shows the migrants perched at the helm of the oil and chemical tanker Althini II.
The Althini II arrived at Las Palmas, Gran Canaria on Monday after an 11-day voyage from Lagos, Nigeria, according to ship-tracking website Marine Traffic.
The Coast Guard said on Twitter that the migrants were taken to the port and escorted to medical services.
Owned by Spain, the Canary Islands are a popular gateway for African immigrants trying to reach Europe. Data from Spain show that sea movements to the archipelago have increased by 51% in the first five months of the year compared to the previous year.
Last year, more than 20,000 migrants crossed the West African coastline to the Canary Islands. According to the Red CrossMore than 1,100 of them died at sea, according to the organization.
In 2020, four Nigerian stowaways were found hidden in the rudder compartment of a Norwegian oil tanker that traveled from Lagos to Las Palmas after surviving 10 days at sea. Norwegian media.
In the same year, a 14-year-old Nigerian Said The Spanish newspaper El Pais, which he hid for fifteen days in a room above the rudder of a cargo ship carrying fuel en route from Lagos to the Canary Islands.
According to the Red Cross, poverty, violent conflict and the search for employment opportunities continue to drive migration from West Africa.
