Migrant drownings near Lanzarote

The Canary Islands has long been a magnet for African migrants

At least four people have drowned and 10 are missing after a boat carrying migrants from North Africa capsized off the coast of the Canary Islands.

An eight-year-old girl is among the drowned, spotted by a rescue helicopter close to shore off the eastern coast of the island of Lanzarote.

Local residents rescued six people from the boat after the accident.

Rescue helicopters have been scouring for any other survivors, but police said hopes were fading fast.

The migrants involved in Sunday's incident are said to be from Morocco. The Spanish Canary Islands off the north-eastern coast of Africa have in recent years attracted thousands of African migrants seeking a better life in Europe.

But increased surveillance has meant the number of migrants reaching the Canary Islands has dropped from almost 32,000 in 2006 to about 9,000 in 2008.