Spanish coastguards rescued 124 migrants, including young children and a person needing a wheelchair, from two wooden boats in the seas off the Canary Islands on Thursday.
One boat carrying 66 people was located 10 nautical miles south of Gran Canaria, Spain's Red Cross said. The second, carrying 58 people including two women, was found nearby.
The EU border agency Frontex says the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands is currently the busiest route for irregular migration from West Africa into the European Union.
The number of people making the perilous journey between January 1 and March 15, reached 12,393, compared with 2,178 during the same period last year, Spain's Interior Ministry said this month.
The island group is around 100 miles (160 km) from West Africa at the closest point. All the migrants were taken to Gran Canaria.
UN, aid groups warn Gaza operations at risk from Israel impediments
US approves $11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan, largest ever
Trump adds seven countries to full travel ban list
Indian parliament votes to allow private firms in nuclear power sector
Doctors in England start five-day walkout during flu surge
Israeli settler kills 16-year-old Palestinian in West Bank, mayor says
Paris' Louvre reopens partially but staff vote to extend strike
Delhi restricts vehicles, office attendance in bid to curb pollution
