Maritime rescuers assist over 100 migrants in two operations off Lanzarote
Spanish emergency services deployed aircraft and rescue vessels on Wednesday to intercept two boats carrying more than 100 migrants near Lanzarote and Alegranza, transferring all passengers to Arrecife in good health.
Early morning rescue off the Lanzarote coast
During the early morning hours of Wednesday, 30 September 2026, Spanish maritime authorities initiated an emergency operation to locate an irregular vessel navigating off the Canary Islands. The boat was detected approximately 13 nautical miles, equivalent to 24 kilometers, off the coast of Lanzarote. The Las Palmas Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (CCS Las Palmas) received an initial alert regarding the craft and coordinated the search response across the maritime zone. Authorities dispatched the Sasemar 101 fixed-wing aircraft alongside the specialized rescue boat Salvamar Acrux to the coordinates. The aerial reconnaissance crew pinpointed the precise position of the craft on the water, enabling the maritime unit to approach directly. The Salvamar Acrux crew completed the rescue operation at sea and took all occupants on board.
Deployment of maritime and aerial assets
Emergency records provided slightly different figures regarding the total number of people on the first vessel. Operational rescue reports recorded 51 people, consisting of 50 men and one woman, whereas emergency management logs documented 52 individuals. After completing the boarding operation at sea, the Salvamar Acrux transported the group across the water to the port facilities at Muelle de Arrecife. The voyage concluded early in the morning, bringing the passengers safely to the island dock. This interception marked the first of two separate rescue operations managed by Salvamento Marítimo off the coast of Lanzarote during the same day.
- Sasemar 101 aircraft and Salvamar Acrux locate and rescue 51 to 52 migrants 24 kilometres off Lanzarote.
- Cruz Roja and SUC emergency teams conduct medical evaluations for the first group of arrivals at Arrecife port.
- Helimer 211 helicopter locates a second boat with 50 North African migrants east of Alegranza.
- Salvamar Al Nair is scheduled to dock at the port of Arrecife carrying the 50 rescued passengers.
Second interception off Alegranza islet
Later on Wednesday afternoon, the Canary Islands Emergency and Security Coordination Center (Cecoes 112) received an emergency telephone alert regarding a second vessel. The small boat was located approximately nine kilometers east of Alegranza, a small islet situated to the north of Lanzarote. Emergency managers responded by mobilizing the Helimer 211 search and rescue helicopter to locate the drifting craft. Once the helicopter crew confirmed the exact position of the barquilla, Salvamento Marítimo directed the rescue boat Salvamar Al Nair to the scene. Rescuers confirmed that the vessel was carrying 50 adult migrants of North African origin, noting that all passengers were of legal age. The Salvamar Al Nair took the 50 passengers on board and set its route toward Arrecife, with arrival scheduled for 19:40 local time.
Port reception and medical evaluations
Both groups of rescued migrants were brought to the port of Arrecife to undergo the standard humanitarian reception protocol. The regular dockside emergency operation brought together medical and relief personnel from the Red Cross (Cruz Roja) and the Canary Emergency Service (SUC). Healthcare workers examined the arrivals from the early morning interception upon docking at first light. Emergency coordinators at Cecoes 112 confirmed that all passengers from the first vessel were in apparent good health, requiring no immediate emergency transfers. The 50 passengers rescued off Alegranza by the Salvamar Al Nair were likewise evaluated upon arrival in Lanzarote, with emergency personnel reporting that all were in apparent good physical condition.
