Migrant arrivals in Spain’s Canary Islands surged 159% over two months, with Morocco emerging as a major departure point despite an overall decline in arrivals this year, according to Spanish Interior Ministry figures.
Between August 16 and October 15, 4,162 migrants reached the archipelago by boat, compared with 1,608 during the same period in 2025, Spanish newspaper La Razón reported Wednesday.
The increase marks a sharp reversal after months of declining arrivals. Daily arrivals averaged 21 before mid-August but climbed to 68 over the following two months.
The acceleration was particularly pronounced between September 16 and October 15, when 3,378 migrants arrived, compared with 784 during the preceding month.
Despite the surge, total arrivals since January remain 33.5% below last year’s levels, with 8,970 migrants recorded by October 15 against 13,491 in 2025.
Spanish media reports citing police sources estimate that around 60% of boats reaching the islands depart from Morocco’s Atlantic coast, including its southern provinces.
A separate count cited by La Razón identified 25 boats carrying 1,561 migrants that departed from Moroccan-controlled coastal areas since September 14, compared with 24 vessels originating farther south in West Africa.
The renewed pressure follows July’s mass migration episode in Ceuta, where Spanish authorities reported tens of thousands of arrivals.
The Canary Islands’ regional government has requested additional police resources and the deployment of the EU border agency Frontex.
Regional officials have also warned of mounting pressure on reception facilities, particularly on El Hierro, where several recent arrivals have involved deaths at sea.
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