By Borja Suarez EL HIERRO, Spain (Reuters) -Patrol boats and helicopters searched on Sunday for about 48 migrants missing since their boat sank near the Spanish island of El Hierro in what threatens to be the deadliest such incident in 30 years of crossings from Africa to the Canary Islands.

AT least nine would-be migrants were left dead in the early hours of Saturday morning after their boat capsized during an attempted rescue off the coast

Shipwreck could be worst tragedy in crossings from Africa to the Canaries in 30 years, with up to 50 people still missing and nine confirmed dead

Rescue crews on Sunday renewed the search for about 48 migrants missing since their boat capsized near the Spanish island of El Hierro in what threatens to be the deadliest such incident in 30 years of crossings from Africa to the Canary Islands.

At least nine migrants died and 48 are missing after their boat capsized early on Saturday near the Spanish island of El Hierro, rescue services said, in what threatens to be the deadliest such incident in 30 years of such crossings to the Canary Islands.

A BOAT CARRYING migrants capsized off Spain’s Canary Islands overnight, killing at least nine people and leaving 48 missing, the national maritime rescue service said on Saturday.

Calm seas and gentle winds associated with the late summer in the Atlantic Ocean off Western Africa has prompted a renewed surge of migrants heading to the Canary Islands, local authorities said on Thursday.

Hopes of finding survivors were slim as sea rescue teams searched the waters off El Hierro, an island in the Atlantic archipelago

Nine people are confirmed drowned and at least 48 are missing after a boat carrying migrants capsized off Spain's Canary Islands overnight, rescue services said Saturday, the latest in a series of such disasters off the west coast of Africa.