According to a Walking Borders report released on Wednesday, an unprecedented number of migrants died at sea trying to reach Canary Islands in Spain during the first five month period of 2024.

According to the group, between Jan. 1, 2011 and May 31, 2012, 4,808 migrants died in the Atlantic after leaving Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal. This is the most dangerous route from Africa to Spain. 95% of the deaths were migrant related.

The number of arrivals to the archipelago during that time period increased five-fold to 16,500 compared to a year earlier, according to data from the Interior Ministry.

The Mediterranean route, which runs from Algeria to the south-east coast of Spain, was the second most deadly. 175 people died on this crossing. The Strait of Gibraltar, which separates Spain and Morocco, also claimed 71 lives. This brings the total number of deaths on the routes to Spain up to 5,054, or 33 on average per day.

"We cannot normalise this figure." Helena Maleno, coordinator of the NGO, said: "We must insist that countries place the protocol of duty of care on the sea and the defense of the right of life above migration controls measures."

The victims were from 17 countries. They mostly came from Africa, but also from Pakistan, the Comoros Islands, and the Indian Ocean. The report stated that 154 women and children were among the victims.

Jose Antonio Rodriguez Verona said that the Atlantic route is the most dangerous, as rough seas could cause the small boats used by many migrants to capsize.

Txema Santana, a journalist and migration expert, said that there are political and economic elements of a "perfect hurricane" in West Africa which will likely lead to more mass arrivals in the Canaries during the summer and fall seasons.

In the past year, 39,910 migrants made it to the Canary Islands, and more than 6,000 died in the attempt. Rights groups predict that this figure will be exceeded in 2018. (Reporting and writing by Borja Suarez, Editing by Andrei Khalip & Ros Russell; Writing by David Latona)