In recent days, Spanish rescue services conducted a series of operations in coastal waters. In the Balearic Islands, a total of at least 147 people were rescued from five boats, and in the Murcia region, another 109 people from five other boats. All migrants were placed under the care of medical and migration services. The operations are part of broader activity in the western Mediterranean, where attempts at illegal border crossings remain high.
Cumulative Rescue Operation
In total, Spanish services rescued 266 migrants in at least ten separate maritime interventions from Friday to Monday.
Key Role of the Balearic Islands
Intense migratory activity was recorded in the waters of the Balearic archipelago, with five pateras carrying 147 people.
Diverse Origins of the Rescued
Among those rescued are both people of Maghrebi and sub-Saharan origin, indicating diverse migratory routes.
Involvement of Multiple Services
The operations involved Salvamento Marítimo, the Guardia Civil, and local police, using maritime and aerial assets.
From Friday to Monday, Spanish services conducted intensive rescue operations, saving a total of 266 migrants attempting to reach the coast on overcrowded pateras. The actions focused mainly on the waters surrounding the Balearic Islands and in the Murcia region. 266 — migrants rescued over four days A dense series of arrivals was recorded in the Balearics. On Saturday morning, Salvamento Marítimo and the Guardia Civil rescued 19 Algerians from a boat drifting east of Cabrera Island. On Sunday evening, around 21:25, ten people of Maghrebi origin were intercepted. The culmination occurred early Monday morning when three more boats arrived within just a few hours. At 5:00, 17 people from the Maghreb were rescued near Blue Bar on Formentera. Then at 5:49, a boat with 26 people of sub-Saharan origin, drifting two miles northeast of Cabrera, was intercepted. Around 6:30, a third boat with 14 people also from sub-Saharan Africa reached the Es Ram area on Formentera. In total, 147 people from five boats were rescued in the Balearics. Arrivals in the Balearics on Monday morning: 5:00 AM: - → 17 people from the Maghreb; 5:49 AM: - → 26 people from Sub-Saharan Africa; 6:30 AM: - → 14 people from Sub-Saharan Africa Simultaneously, in the Murcia region on Spain's southeastern coast, services reported significant activity over the weekend. Five boats with 109 people on board, including 13 minors, were intercepted there. Two of these boats were intercepted in San Pedro del Pinatar, and one in Águilas on Saturday, totaling 51 people. All those intercepted were handed over to medical and migration services and were reportedly in good health. These actions highlight that Spain's southern coast remains under constant migratory pressure. Spain has long been one of the main entry points for migrants into Europe, particularly via sea routes. Following the 2015 migration crisis and the EU-Turkey agreement, some of the flows shifted to the western Mediterranean route. In 2023, over 56,000 migrants arrived in Spain by sea, with the Balearic and Canary Islands recording the highest numbers of arrivals, posing a challenge for local rescue services and the asylum system. The total number of 266 rescued migrants is the sum from several press reports from different days. It should be noted that an earlier summary based on data from February 24 mentioned 84 people in the Balearics. The latest reports from February 25, which also include earlier interventions from February 23 and 24, allow for a more complete tally. The rescue operations were carried out by combined forces of Salvamento Marítimo, the Guardia Civil, and local police, using patrol boats and helicopters. According to procedures, all rescued individuals undergo medical checks and are then transferred to appropriate reception centers, where the identification process and potential application for international protection begins.