Spanish police say they have arrested 19 people suspected of murder and torture after more than 50 went missing from a migrant boat that was travelling from Senegal to the Canary Islands. Authorities suspect that some victims were accused of being witches amid numerous incidents during the voyage, including engine failure, adverse weather, and food shortages. The wooden vessel was rescued south of Gran Canaria on August 24, with 248 survivors on board, although officials estimate that approximately 300 were initially on board, suggesting that some individuals had been thrown overboard. Survivors reported that certain passengers began attacking dozens, beating and abusing them in various forms. Disturbingly, some were allegedly pushed into the sea alive, while others faced violence for voicing dissatisfaction about their treatment. One male passenger died in a hospital shortly after being rescued. The group comprised migrants from several African countries, including Senegal, Guinea, and Mali. The detained suspects are facing charges of facilitating irregular immigration, homicide, assault, and torture, amidst Spain's ongoing struggle with irregular migration reaching the archipelago, which saw nearly 47,000 arrivals in 2024, a record year. However, the numbers have notably decreased in the current year.