In the last hours of this Saturday, December 14th, the area of the lighthouse of La Mola in Formentera was the scene of the arrival of a patera with 14 people of North African origin, according to the Government Delegation in the Balearic Islands. The people, found in apparent good health, were intercepted after arriving at the coast, standing out as part of a day marked by intense rescue activity in the archipelago.
A day of multiple interventions
On the same Saturday afternoon, Salvamento Marítimo and the Guardia Civil intervened in the rescue of another skiff in Formentera with 13 people on board, where tragedy struck. Two people were found dead, while one more had to be transferred in serious condition by helicopter to the Can Misses Hospital in Ibiza.
In addition, in the morning, two small boats were located in Cala Santanyí and on the island of Cabrera, both south of Mallorca. Together, they were carrying 44 immigrants of sub-Saharan origin. In total, 71 people were rescued on Saturday in four boats detected in Balearic waters, highlighting the increasing migratory pressure on this route.
Annual balance of arrivals
Official data confirms that so far in 2024, 5,691 people have arrived in the archipelago aboard 340 small boats, an alarming increase compared to the figures for 2023, when 128 boats and 2,278 migrants were registered. This increase underlines the complex situation facing local authorities and emergency services in the Balearics.
