The Balearic government has called on the Spanish government for urgent help after a sharp rise in the number of migrants arriving by small boat.
The weekend’s arrivals
On Saturday and Sunday, eight boats arrived carrying 127 people, after five boats with 106 people on Friday. In total, 13 boats brought 233 people to the islands in three days.
| Location | Boats |
|---|---|
| Formentera | 9 |
| Cabrera | 2 |
| Mallorca | 1 |
| Ibiza | 1 |
So far this year, around 2,640 people have reached the Balearics on about 140 boats.
“At breaking point”
Balearic president Marga Prohens said on social media that the islands were at breaking point, that the security forces did not have enough resources and that the Sánchez government was absent. She accused the PSOE of leaving the Balearics to cope alone.
Rescue services under strain
Spain’s maritime rescue service, Salvamento Marítimo, is responsible for a vast area of sea. The trade union CCOO warns that the crews who handle most rescues in the Balearics are working with ageing boats and equipment, and need new vessels and better resources.
The pressure is greater in summer, when the islands’ waters fill with leisure boats and rescue crews are also called out to help sailors and swimmers in trouble. With frequent alerts, crews have little time to rest.
The union’s demands
- More funding to renew boats and equipment.
- Better working conditions, including attention to physical strain and mental health.
- Recognition that the route from Algeria to the Balearics is now a structural phenomenon requiring a coordinated response, including at EU level.
The Algerian route
Most of the boats set out from the Algerian coast. The crossing is shorter than other Mediterranean routes but still dangerous, and in recent years it has become a constant flow rather than an occasional one. Many people have died attempting it.
The political debate
The Spanish government says it has increased resources for the route and for the reception of migrants in the islands, and argues that migration is a shared responsibility. The Balearic government insists that the response remains insufficient, particularly in Formentera, where facilities are very limited. With arrivals typically peaking in late summer and autumn, both sides expect the pressure to continue.
