Tragedy on Mallorca: A single life lost and another critically hurt amid the sinking of a vessel carrying 20 individuals.
In a dramatic turn of events off the coast of Mallorca, emergency services were activated at 15:30 on Wednesday for the rescue of a foundered boat carrying more than 20 migrants. The operation, which also involved the Provincial Maritime Service, the Air Service, Maritime Rescue, HELIMER, and even a private boat, resulted in the rescue of 19 people alive. However, tragedy struck as one person was found dead in the shipwreck.
Three individuals are currently missing, presumed to have abandoned the boat to swim towards the coast. The identities of these missing persons have not been explicitly named in the search results, leaving their fates uncertain. Another man, aged 30, was seriously injured in the incident.
The affected migrants told healthcare professionals that they had been adrift at sea for six days prior to the rescue. The majority of the migrants are of Maghrebi and sub-Saharan origin.
This incident is not an isolated event in the Balearic Islands. Over 230 boats have arrived at the Balearic coasts this year, with more than 4,430 migrants arriving irregularly by sea. In 2024 alone, this number increased by 77% compared to the rest of Spain, with 5,882 migrants arriving in the Balearic Islands.
The increasing migratory pressure has prompted a meeting to be held on Thursday by the Balearic president, Marga Prohens, with the four island councils to address the situation in the archipelago.
Six boats with 75 migrants on board arrived in the Balearic Islands over the weekend, adding to the ongoing challenge. The rescued individuals have been handed over to the National Police in Palma.
This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing migratory crisis in the Balearic Islands and the urgent need for a comprehensive and humane response.
