What does the situation mean for visitors in the south of El Hierro?
The authorities have not yet published practical advice for visitors. No deadlines or new rules for visitors or residents are known.
The situation is most visible at the port of La Restinga, on the island’s southern tip. Empty boats are piling up there because the usual crane is broken and a mobile crane is filling in.
This holds up rescues, fishing and diving. If you have booked a dive or fishing trip in La Restinga, ask the operator whether it will go ahead.
The hospital is affected too. The union Asamblea7Islas says 15 of the 30 beds at the Hospital Insular Nuestra Señora de los Reyes are taken by migrants, and it calls for a military field hospital on the quay.
What happened off El Hierro on 11 November?
At daybreak the Salvamar Navia rescued a cayuco with 100 people and escorted it to the La Restinga jetty. Salvamento Marítimo (the Spanish sea rescue service) confirmed this to the Canarias Ahora newsroom.
In the morning a boat with 68 people reached the port under its own power, in waves of up to four metres. It had set off from Saint-Louis in Senegal, and the Salvamar Acrux helped with the operation.
According to the Efe agency, the people had been at sea for more than five days, including eight minors. At 13:49 the Salvamar Diphda rescued another 61 people.
At 19:25 a boat with 148 people from Gambia arrived, and a fifth with 55 people followed during the night. On Thursday 12 November, rescuers brought another cayuco with 51 people, including five minors, to the jetty in the morning.
No deaths were reported for Wednesday’s five boats. The total of 432 is the sum of the individual figures, while the source itself speaks of “more than 400” people.
How strong was Storm Charles on El Hierro?
AEMET (the state weather service) had issued an orange warning for El Hierro for wind with gusts of up to 100 km/h. On the summits gusts were expected to top 110 km/h, and the warning ran until 18:00 on Wednesday.
Yellow warnings for rain and rough seas came on top. On La Palma a red warning applied until 12:00 on Wednesday, with gusts of up to 130 km/h.
On Thursday only rain remained, and the 112 emergency centre reported no serious incidents. There is no confirmation that all warnings for El Hierro have ended.
What has the Spanish government decided?
On Tuesday 10 November the Spanish government declared the “Emergencia Migratoria en Canarias”. The source does not give the legal basis or the length of the state of emergency.
The Comisión Interministerial de Inmigración met under Minister Ángel Víctor Torres (Política Territorial). Canarian president Fernando Clavijo and Alpidio Armas, president of the Cabildo de El Hierro (the island government), took part.
It approved an extra 15.18 million euros for more places in state centres and for transfers to the mainland. The Red Cross gets one million euros for first medical care.
An additional ship, the Guardamar Calíope, is coming to El Hierro. The source does not say when it will arrive.
According to Armas, the government promised a field hospital at the CATE San Andrés (a reception centre for first care). Armas also wants money for La Restinga and describes El Hierro as an island with “just over 11,000 inhabitants”.
How does the day fit the figures of recent weeks?
The Gobierno de Canarias (the Canarian government) counts 6,665 arrivals in 66 boats in the first nine days of November. Of these boats, 48 landed on El Hierro.
By 25 October, 2,776 of the 3,814 people arriving in the Canaries had landed on El Hierro, about 73%, according to the Canarian government count. October was the month with the heaviest migration pressure in the region since 2023.
For unaccompanied minors the Gobierno de Canarias gives 216 in September, 447 in October and 438 in November up to the 9th. Figures for the weekend of 7 and 8 November differ, ranging from about 1,083 to 1,400 people.
What is still open?
It is unclear how long the state of emergency lasts and what legal effects it has. There are also no dates for the field hospital or the Guardamar Calíope.
The police unions Jupol, SUP and UFP warn of too few, exhausted officers. According to the source, the finance ministry Hacienda is examining measures against the extra costs on El Hierro.
Government delegate Anselmo Pestana visited La Restinga on 9 November and planned visits to the CATE San Andrés and Echedo. Whether the authorities will give guidance to visitors and residents is not yet known.