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From Our Own Correspondent: Migrant boat tragedy in the Canaries

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Spanish coast guard towing a boat

15/05/2021 GMT

Migrant boat tragedy in the Canaries

BBC World Service - From Our Own Correspondent, Migrant boat tragedy in the Canaries

The tragedy of the migrants crossing from Africa to the Canary Islands – 56 die en route

The tragedy of the migrants crossing from Africa to the Canary Islands – 56 die in one boat as better weather and calmer seas encourage more to make the perilous journey.

Stories from The Canary Islands, Brazil, Mexico and Italy.

As the weather improves and the seas become calmer, the number of boats carrying migrants keen to reach Europe’s shores is once again on the rise.  But the journey from Africa’s shores to the Spanish owned Canary Islands can be perilous and often ends in tragedy. Around 200 people so far this year have died while trying to reach the Canaries or Spain by sea.  Late last month a boat with 24 corpses was found near the island of El Hierro. A total of 59 people had set off together but only three people survived the journey. Bruno Boelpaep met one of them. 

In Brazil where the Covid pandemic has taken a terrible toll on the population Congress is conducting an inquiry into the government’s handling of the crisis. President Jair Bolsonaro has repeatedly spoken out against lockdowns and restrictions and has in the past told Brazilians to “stop whining” about the deadly virus. However, Brazil has one of the worst death rates in the world and the President faces criticism at home for failing to procure enough vaccines in time to stem the second wave. Mark Lowen, who’s recently returned from Brazil, reflects on the authoritarianism of President Bolsonaro and the similarities with the leader of another country he knows well.

Mexico’s Sea of Cortez – the Gulf of California – is home to the most critically endangered sea mammal on earth… The vaquita marina’s numbers have dwindled to less than a dozen, according to the latest research.  And the most urgent threat to this small porpoise comes from the nets used to catch another threatened species – the totoaba. Fishing for totoaba is illegal in Mexico. But in China they’re believed to have medicinal properties and sell for thousands of dollars on the illicit market… So totoaba fishing in Baja California has continued illegally. Linda Pressly reports from the coastal town of San Felipe.

The Torlonia Marbles are one of the world’s most important collections of marble portrait busts and statues of emperors, gods and goddesses from Ancient Greece and Rome. But for 80 years they were hidden away, gathering dust and of sight – until now. 92 pieces are being shown to the public in an exhibition in Rome.  David Willey has been to see them, cleaned and restored to their gleaming former whiteness.

(Image: Spanish coast guard towing a boat, where 24 people were found dead, found adrift off the Canary Islands. Credit: EPA/Ramon de la Rocha)

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