A person has lost their life and around 80 migrants have been arrested this Friday by the security forces of Morocco, after two attempts to reach the Canary Islands by sea from Fum el Ued, near the historical capital of Western Sahara, currently under Moroccan control, El Aaiún.
According to sources familiar with the operation cited by the Moroccan portal Hespress, the groups of migrants tried to depart in two boats from the African coast, but were intercepted by the Moroccan authorities early in the morning. Of those detained, about 50 would be citizens of Morocco and the rest would come from various countries in the Sahel region, according to the same source.
The first vessel, an inflatable boat, was located and detained shortly after being launched into the sea. It was at that moment when one of the migrants died after entering the water, according to the source, which did not provide further details about the circumstances of the death. Simultaneously, the Royal Gendarmerie and local security forces intercepted a second group of people in a simultaneous operation.
The arrested have been placed in custody for the application of the usual protocols and an investigation has been launched both into the two attempts at crossing and into the death, the same source indicated. Videos are circulating on social media showing more than 40 people transporting a boat towards the sea during the night.
The area of Fum el Ued is a point frequently used by migrants attempting to reach the Canary Islands by sea from the El Aaiún region. The coast of Lanzarote is about 130 kilometers from this stretch of coastline.