Maritime Rescue rescues a canoe with four bodies on board near El Hierro. Another 64 people were traveling on the boat, many in poor health, according to emergency services.

The boat would have left Nouakchott, in Mauritania, the origin of most of the canoes that are arriving to the islands. Between January 1 and February 29, 11,932 people arrived at the islands by sea, 539% more than a year ago, says the Ministry of the Interior.