El Hierro declares emergency after more than 3,300 migrants arrive by boat

The island of El Hierro has declared a state of emergency after more than 3,300 migrants arrived by boat in the first week of November, prompting local officials to seek support from Spain’s central government.

The arrivals were spread across about 30 boats, according to El Hierro authorities. The island is seeking temporary accommodation for the new arrivals, while council president Alpidio Armas said conditions at the local hospital had become “undesirable”.

Thousands of migrants have reached the Canary Islands or been rescued at sea in recent weeks. Armas said the emergency declaration was intended to provide a framework for co-operation with higher levels of government as arrivals sharply increased.