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Spanish authorities have arrested a group of 19 accused of homicide and brutal abuse after more than 50 migrants disappeared from a vessel travelling from Senegal to the Spanish archipelago.

Investigators believe some passengers were labeled of being "witches" after several incidents throughout the journey, such as mechanical issues, stormy conditions, and lack of supplies.

The wooden vessel was intercepted south of Gran Canaria on August 24 with 248 people aboard, as stated by law enforcement.

But, authorities believe that about 300 individuals were originally aboard, and that some had been thrown overboard.

Survivors told authorities that a number of their fellow passengers started "assaulting many of people, striking and mistreating them in various ways," an official report said.

"In some cases, they threw passengers into the sea alive and declined to save those who ended up in the water by accident."

Alleged fatal attacks were also documented "simply because certain individuals objected or voiced their dissatisfaction with the conditions of the journey," authorities said.

One man died in medical care after being discovered in critical condition when the boat was intercepted, as per reports.

Passengers consisted of people from Senegalese, Guinean, Malian, Gambian, Sierra Leonean, and Bissau-Guinean backgrounds, local media stated.

Each of the detained individuals are in pretrial detention charged with facilitating illegal migration, homicide, physical violence, and severe abuse.

Spain is among the primary gateways for irregular migration into the EU, with most arriving via the Atlantic islands.

Almost 47,000 migrants reached the islands in 2024, setting a record for a consecutive year, but numbers have been significantly reduced in recent months, as indicated by official data.