Migrant boat rescued off Canary Islands after 27 days adrift: NGO disputes official death toll

A boat carrying West African migrants was rescued off the Canary Islands on 2 September 2026 after 27 days adrift from The Gambia. Spain's Salvamento Marítimo confirmed five dead and 44 survivors. NGO Caminando Fronteras reported 83 dead of 127 originally aboard — a figure authorities said they could not verify.