OFFICIALS on the Canary Islands are demanding a state of emergency be declared to combat the growing migrant crisis.

Around 47,000 people arrived in Spain on small boats last year with government officials saying the number of unaccompanied minors has reached almost three times the official capacity.

This year alone, from January 1, to May 15, 10,882 people have reached the Canaries via maritime routes.

Many of these include young children with the government now admitting they are struggling to keep them all safe due to the volume of those arriving.

The popular holiday islands have a recognised capacity to house 1,737 migrant children.

But the number coming over from parts of West Africa across the Atlantic Ocean have skyrocketed recently with 5,017 minors now on the archipelago.

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