A total of 1,317 migrants died while attempting to reach the Spanish coast during the first five months of this year, according to a report released today by the Caminando Fronteras collective. Of the more than 1,300 people who perished between January 1 and May 31, 142 were women and 129 were minors.
Furthermore, the organization adds that 27 vessels completely disappeared with all passengers on board. According to the collective, the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands continues to be the deadliest maritime border crossing, accounting for 635 of the recorded victims.
Despite registering a 72% reduction in arrivals, the Atlantic route has fundamentally become far more lethal for those who attempt the crossing. For every 100 people who successfully arrived in 2025, approximately 14 individuals died, whereas in 2026, that figure rose significantly to 21 people.
Regarding the Algerian route, the organization indicated that the number of victims exceeded 507 for the first time, representing a 54% increase compared to the same period last year. The Strait of Gibraltar route saw its death toll double, rising from 52 to 99 victims in 2026.
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Additionally, 48 people died at the border fence of the North African enclave of Ceuta during these same five months. The founder of Caminando Fronteras and lead investigator, Helena Maleno, emphasized that the document serves primarily as an act of remembrance.
She stated that the text is born from the right of families to know the truth and the right of victims to be formally recognized. Maleno described the investigation as a tool for reparation and social transformation sustained by those who refuse to let these names disappear into historical silence.
The release of the report comes just ahead of an upcoming official visit by Pope Leo XIV to the Canary Islands. The pontiff has repeatedly utilized his public platform to denounce the systematic exclusion and discrimination faced by migrating populations worldwide.
Helena Maleno concluded by noting that the figures presented in the report illustrate the exact reality to which the Pope refers. She warned that these tragedies are the direct result of humanitarian words failing to translate into concrete policy changes that protect human life.
