Madar (International) - Authorities on the island of El Hierro, part of Spain's Canary Islands archipelago, declared a state of emergency on Saturday after more than 3,300 migrants arrived on around 30 boats since the start of November, and called on the Spanish government to provide the support needed to cope with the arrivals.
The president of the island council, Alpidio Armas, said the authorities were working to provide temporary accommodation for the migrants amid growing pressure on local resources, adding that conditions at the island's hospital no longer allow it to take in more cases.
The authorities also warned of a storm expected to hit the area overnight, which could increase the risks for migrants still at sea.
According to Spanish Interior Ministry data, 13,327 migrants reached the Canary Islands by sea between the start of the year and the end of October, a drop of 5.5% compared with the same period last year.
