SEARCH operations continued today after nine people died and 48 were missing when a migrant boat capsized near the Canary Islands, Spanish authorities said.

The incident, where a child was among the dead, is likely the deadliest crossing from Africa, since the death of 25 people in 2009.

Spain’s maritime rescue service said on Saturday that the tragedy occurred after it was alerted to the presence of a small boat loaded with people about four miles from the island of El Hierro.

The boat turned over when too many people moved to one side during the rescue attempt, according to a statement by the rescue service.

Rescuers saved 27 people of the 84 who were trying to reach the coast and confirmed nine dead.

Spanish authorities said the migrants were from Mali, Mauritania and Senegal.

Government spokesman Anselmo Pestana said: “They had been at sea for at least two days without food and it seems there was a panic before the boat capsized.”

Three other boats reached the Canary Islands on Saturday night, carrying 208 migrants.

The Atlantic route for migrants from west Africa to the Canary Islands is one of the deadliest in the world.

While there is no accurate death toll because of the lack of information on departures from west Africa, Spanish migrant rights group Walking Borders estimates the victims are in the thousands.

Over 26,000 people have arrived via sea to the Canary Islands so far this year, compared to some 14,000 in the same period last year.