By William J. Furney
At least nine people are dead, and 50 others are missing after a boat carrying around 80 migrants from Africa capsized off the coast of the Canary Island of El Hierro, emergency services said.
The wooden craft capsized late on Friday evening near the town of Las Playas. The occupants of the boat, some of whom were minors, alerted authorities by calling emergency number 112, said officials.
A rescue operation was launched, and by 3 am, a total of 27 people were rescued, with two airlifted by helicopter. Rescuers were still searching for more bodies. Two other migrant boats also reached the island, one carrying 131 people.
Separately, emergency services rescued 57 people aboard another vessel off the coast of Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands, Spanish news agency EFE reported.
The Canary Islands, located off the northwestern coast of Africa, have become a major transit point for migrants attempting to reach Europe.