Canary Islands boat horror as 'four women and a child' confirmed dead in sinking

A boat carrying around 180 migrants has capsized as it reached the Canary Island of El Hierro, with four women and a child already confirmed dead in the tragedy. Horror footage of the moment the vessel they had travelled from Africa on tipped over was broadcast live by a local TV station which had been awaiting its arrival.

The incident happened around 9.30am as several migrants inside the rickety boat stood up near the port of La Restinga in the south of El Hierro as a coastguard rescue vessel neared it. The footage Television Canaria published showed harrowing scenes of migrants being pulled to safety by coastguards alongside the upturned boat as onlookers broke down in tears. One could be overheard saying, 'No, no, no' over and over again as some of the survivors hauled themselves up the side of the coastguard vessel using ropes.

Others in the sea had life buoys thrown to them by rescuers. Many, including those who died and are thought to have been trapped under the upturned boat, are believed to have been non-swimmers.

A spokesman for a regional government-run emergency response coordination centre said in an initial social media message just before midday local time: "We can confirm the deaths of two women after a boat capsized in the port of La Restinga.

"Emergency medical responders and the Red Cross continue to assist people affected at the scene of the incident."

An official said in a follow-up tweet a few moments later: "Medical services have confirmed the deaths of another two women on the boat which takes the death toll so far to four" before adding: "We can confirm the death of a five-year-old girl as well."

A baby on board, one of several young children in the boat, is said to be missing. Another person whose age and gender are not known has been taken "seriously ill" to the hospital.

El Hierro is the farthest south and west of the Canary Islands.

The Canary Islands president, Fernando Clavijo, who was on an official visit to El Hierro at the time, headed to the port after being informed about the incident.

He tweeted when the death toll was still at two: "The feeling of helplessness is enormous. Much encouragement to the medical and rescue teams who have to deal with this tragedy."