A baby girl was born aboard an overcrowded migrant boat en route to Spain’s Canary Islands and is now receiving hospital treatment, along with her mother; both are reported to be in good health, according to medical and regional government officials on Thursday.

Dr. Maria Sabalich, emergency coordinator at Lanzarote’s Molina Orosa University Hospital, told Reuters that the mother and child are receiving antibiotics and pediatric care.

“The mother and child are safe,” she stated. “They remain hospitalized, but are doing well.”

The Spanish coast guard reported that the boat carrying the pregnant woman departed from Tan-Tan, a Moroccan province approximately 135 nautical miles southeast of Lanzarote.

Following their hospital discharge, the mother and infant will be transferred to a migrant humanitarian center, and subsequently to a maternal and child reception center on another island, Cristina Ruiz, a spokesperson for the Canary Islands’ regional government in Las Palmas, informed Reuters.

This recent arrival contributes to the yearly influx of migrants to the Canaries from West Africa, a perilous journey costing thousands of lives.

The rescue operation proceeded smoothly due to favorable weather conditions, according to Domingo Trujillo, captain of the Spanish coast guard vessel that rescued the 60 migrants, including 14 women and four children, as he told Spanish news agency EFE.

“The baby’s cries confirmed its well-being, prompting us to ask the mother’s permission to clean her,” he explained. “Fellow passengers had already severed the umbilical cord; our intervention was limited to examining the child, returning her to her mother, and ensuring they were warm for the journey.”

Overnight, Canary Islands rescue services recovered two additional boats carrying a total of 144 people.

According to Walking Borders, a Spanish migration charity, 9,757 people perished attempting the West African crossing in 2024. The route from Morocco and Western Sahara is frequently used by women who commonly face sexual violence, discrimination, racism, and deportation during their journey.

Trujillo noted the crews’ exhaustion but expressed pride in their work.

“We depart at dawn and return late nearly every night,” he said. “While this newborn’s case is particularly positive, in all our operations, despite fatigue, we know we’re assisting those in distress.”