A total of 274 migrants have arrived on three of Spain's Canary Islands over the weekend. After weeks of calm, this marks a notable spike in migrant arrivals.
The three boats were carrying 9, 131, and 134 people, respectively, with some of the attempts requiring rescue assistance at sea, according to local media.
Five people were reportedly taken to hospital due to various medical conditions.
Despite a high volume of people making their way to the Spanish archipelago, there was only one minor reported among the fresh arrivals.
It is unclear at this point from where along the African coast the boats had originally departed. Details about the nationalities of the rescued are yet to be released.
Read AlsoCanary Islands: Migrant arrivals down over 80 percent in first quarter of 2026
Small group reaches Lanzarote
The first one of the boats arrived on the island of Lanzarote on Saturday (July 11), carrying one woman and seven men — as well as another male who steered the small vessel.
According to local eyewitnesses, the person in charge of maneuvering the boat fled the scene after the migrants disembarked.
The search for the man is reportedly ongoing.
Read AlsoCanaries: 150 migrants land on Lanzarote
Dozens are carefully escorted to El Hierro
Also on Saturday (July 11), a small boat carrying 131 migrants on board managed to reach the La Restinga harbor of the small island of El Hierro.
It had to be escorted to the port for about nine kilometers by coast guard officials; according to media reports, humanitarian assistance needed to be dispatched to the El Hierro in anticipation of the arrival, as the small vessel remained under serious threat of suffering shipwreck in the open sea.
Upon successfully bringing the large group of people to the island, five migrants had to be taken to the hospital.
Read AlsoSpain: First large-scale return case under EU asylum pact sparks concerns in the Canary Islands
Overcrowded boat finds safe harbor in Gran Canaria
Finally, the last boat to reach the Canaries was the one with the most people on board:
In the early hours of July 12, 134 migrants, including one minor, landed on the island of Gran Canaria after their boat had been located almost 20 kilometers south of the island and escorted by coast guard officials.
Emergency Service and the Red Cross were waiting at the island's port of Arguineguin to ensure everyone's wellbeing.
Three migrants in total required to be taken to hospital for medical attention.
Read AlsoCanary Islands: Hundreds of migrants rescued over last few days