Eighteen people are missing from a small boat that had set out for the Balearics from Algeria well over a week ago.
On Wednesday, the boat was spotted approximately 40 miles off Cabrera by a Frontex plane based in Alicante. A Maritime Safety Agency boat, which was on other operations between Mallorca and Ibiza, was diverted and rescued five people.
The small boat had apparently been adrift for nine days. Investigators believe that the missing people had sighted land and thought they could swim to shore.
The five were taken to Ibiza; some needed to be admitted to hospital. Although none had suffered injuries, they had been at sea for at least ten days, with only sufficient food and water for two to three days, the time it can take for the journey from Algeria.