Migrant boat capsizes near Canary Islands port, claims seven lives

The Star

At least seven people including children died when a migrant boat bound for Spain's Canary Islands capsized off the island of El Hierro as rescuers were escorting it to port, regional emergency services said on Wednesday (May 28).   WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

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00:00At least seven people, including three children, died when a migrant boat capsized off the

00:11island of El Hierro in Spain's Canary Islands as it was being escorted to port. The vessel,

00:18reportedly carrying around 180 people, according to state broadcaster TVE, overturned in La

00:24Restinga Harbor, located on the smallest of the Canary Islands. Among the deceased were

00:31two five-year-old girls, a 16-year-old girl and four women. A spokesperson for Spain's

00:37maritime rescue service said the vessel was being escorted into harbor when many of the

00:42passengers appeared to rush to one side of the overcrowded boat, causing it to tip and capsize.

00:48Emergency crews, including local dive clubs, specialist divers and a medical helicopter,

00:54were deployed to assist in the rescue operation, according to the Red Cross. The Canary Islands,

01:00situated off the western coast of Africa, remain a major transit point for migrants attempting

01:05dangerous sea crossings to reach Europe. Thousands have died on the route in recent years,

01:11often aboard unseaworthy boats.

01:19Yes!

01:25Thank you, sir.

01:27Not the Scoopers they have all Comb venir first on the drilling side of Africa...

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