Dead or Live in Canary Islands "Pateras"

In the Spanish language, a patera is a type of boat. In current usage it refers to any of the floating devices used by African people smugglers to transport illegal immigrants from Africa to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands (more recently also to Gran Canaria and Tenerife) or across the Strait of Gibraltar to Andalusia. The poor state of the boats, overcrowding, and lack of sea experience often result in massive drownings. Patera operators have been known to intentionally throw their passengers overboard if they need to flee the coast guard.

Pd. Source /Picture (Foto: Juan Medina journalist Canary Island )/Fuerteventura.

Comments and faves

  1. ★

    David Hernández and BillyWarhol added this photo to their favorites.

  2. BillyWarhol (61 months ago | reply)

    Frightening desperate shot*

    --
    Seen on your photo stream. (?)

  3. bulldog1 (61 months ago | reply)

    what would we do wanting better and in these people's places....and this is a very powerful photo. Very frightening situation for those in the water.
    Beauty is in the *EYE* of the Beholder
    Please add your Beautiful Photo to:
    Beauty is in the *Eye* of the Beholder!

  4. ★

    goodgod! added this photo to their favorites. (61 months ago)

  5. lacherryboom (60 months ago | reply)

    Realmente impactante, de esas imagenes que no nos dejan indiferentes.

  6. ★

    mojorero added this photo to their favorites. (60 months ago)

  7. ismagins (Ismael Arbelo) (60 months ago | reply)

    Esta foto es una pasada

    Si alguien quisiera explicar el sufrimiento del inmigrante
    Podría dar una larga charla

    Yo creo que con esta foto vasta

  8. Roman Poretski 'chagabunga [deleted] (60 months ago | reply)

    it's one of the sad and beautifulest capture i have ever seen. It's really powerfull. These men wont only to feed their families, to live good.

  9. dcols (60 months ago | reply)

    Yep Buddy, It's Beatiful capture & Really, Really PowerFull, Just Live Or Dead..... In The Sea......

  10. _ Krystian PHOTOSynthesis (wild-thriving) _ (59 months ago | reply)

    Intensive and sad... ("What are we doing?")

  11. dcols (59 months ago | reply)

    Fight for Live ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡
    ;-.(

  12. ★

    wheely jojo added this photo to her favorites. (51 months ago)

  13. ASEOKAYNHA (41 months ago | reply)

    Nuevos Cólons, Vascos, Cabrais deben encontrar o viejo camiño perdido para a Afrika.

    Luís Carlos de Oliveira Aseokaýnha

  14. ★

    tomasgorria and ASEOKAYNHA added this photo to their favorites.

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