The immigration crisis is putting increased pressure on the Balearic security forces and rescue resources. A total of 12 migrants are missing after jumping into the water from a small boat on Friday afternoon, according to the Balearic Islands Government Delegation. The boat was rescued at 6.45 p.m. about 36 miles southwest of Cabrera.
A total of 26 people were travelling on board, according to the 14 migrants of North African origin who were rescued. The Civil Guard Maritime Service (Río Gallego), CUCO and Maritime Rescue vessels have set up a search operation in the area. The Provincial Maritime Service of the Civil Guard and Maritime Rescue took part in the rescue operation.
The Caminando Fronteras collective, based on information received from relatives of the migrants, is aware of the disappearance of at least two boats that left the coast of Algeria in recent days bound for the Balearics and have not reached their destination. The first set sail last Sunday and apparently had 25 people on board, all of them of Maghreb origin.
The head of the NGO, Helena Maleno, believes that it could be the one rescued on Friday afternoon with 14 survivors and 12 missing. On Friday, the activist said they received another alert from relatives warning that a second boat with 26 people on board could have disappeared during the journey and they informed the authorities. Apparently, there were 18 people of North African origin and eight Somalis on board this boat. Among the latter, there were six women.
Concern is growing in the Balearics over the record arrival of small boats from Algeria. The president of the Balearic Government, Marga Prohens, warned that the migration route between Algeria and the Balearic Islands is the fastest growing in Europe, with more than 4,700 arrivals so far in 2025, 77% more than in 2024. The Balearics are experiencing strong migratory pressure, especially in Ibiza and Formentera, where the reception network is saturated and the reception centres still have no opening date.
Prohens called on the central government and the EU to urgently deploy Frontex to the islands, citing information already shared by this body warning of an increase in the arrival of small boats via this route. She also called for cooperation with the Algerian authorities to be strengthened to prevent a humanitarian crisis.