Maritime Rescue and a plane of the air service of the Civil Guard have starred this Saturday in a new rescue operation in the waters of the Balearic archipelago, after locating a boat with 13 immigrants of North African origin near Formentera. The tragedy struck the boat, leaving two dead and one seriously injured. The Helimer, a Salvamento Marítimo helicopter, transferred the injured in critical condition to the Can Misses Hospital in Ibiza, accompanied by the body of one of the deceased, according to the Government Delegation in the Balearic Islands.
The rest of the occupants were taken by the vessel Naos to the port of Ibiza, where they received attention. The skiff was detected around 16:00 hours in the waters of Formentera, and joins three other vessels intercepted in the last 48 hours off the Balearic coast, carrying a total of 88 immigrants.
Alarming figures: the increase of pateras in the Balearic Islands
The arrival of boats to the Balearic coasts continues to increase this 2024. So far, 5,677 people have reached the archipelago aboard 339 small boats, according to data compiled by EFE. These figures are more than double those of last year, when 2,278 people were registered in 128 boats.
This Friday, two other boats with 44 immigrants of sub-Saharan origin were rescued off the coast of Mallorca, while this Saturday morning more boats were located in Cala Santanyí and the archipelago of Cabrera. The migratory phenomenon has intensified in the western Mediterranean, with the Balearic Islands as one of the most affected points. Humanitarian organizations and local authorities have warned about the increase in the migratory flow and the high risk of tragedies due to the poor conditions of the boats used.
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