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17 migrants die on boat adrift for 15 days trying to reach Spain's Balearic Islands
🇪🇸 Spain /Disasters & Emergencies

17 migrants die on boat adrift for 15 days trying to reach Spain's Balearic Islands

From El País · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Seventeen migrants died while attempting to reach the Balearic Islands, Spain, aboard a boat that had been adrift for 15 days.
  • The two survivors were rescued by the Spanish coast guard and are receiving medical attention for dehydration and malnutrition.
  • The incident has intensified political debate over migration management in the Spanish islands.

Seventeen migrants have died after their boat, carrying 19 people, drifted for 15 days in the Mediterranean attempting to reach Spain's Balearic Islands. The two survivors, of North African origin, were rescued by the Guardia Civil southwest of Mallorca and are being treated for severe dehydration and malnutrition.

The two survivors have explained that the patera departed with 19 people on board with the intention of reaching the Spanish coasts. However, at a certain point in the crossing, the boat was left adrift. During 15 days they were at the mercy of the sea and 17 people died. The survivors have related that they were throwing the bodies into the sea.

— Salvamento MarítimoRelaying the account of the two survivors of the perilous journey.

According to the survivors' account to Salvamento Marítimo (Maritime Rescue), the vessel departed from the North African coast with 19 individuals. During the perilous 15-day journey, 17 people died, and their bodies were reportedly thrown overboard. The boat, which had lost its way, was eventually located by the Balearia ferry Rosalind Franklin, which alerted authorities.

I deeply regret the death of these people, an episode that highlights the harshest face of the migratory drama.

— Marga ProhensPresident of the Government of the Balearic Islands, commenting on the tragedy.

The tragedy has reignited political tensions. Marga Prohens, president of the Balearic Islands government, lamented the deaths and criticized Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for not acknowledging the migration crisis affecting the islands. Prohens pointed to nearly a hundred arrivals in less than 24 hours and a 17% increase in arrivals, urging Sánchez to act on foreign policy, protect borders, and activate Frontex. This incident follows another rescue operation early Tuesday morning where 15 migrants were found alive on a separate boat near Ibiza.

Sánchez must act at the source, in foreign policy, protecting our borders, activating Frontex, and the first step to act is not to deny reality, because whoever denies the reality of what is happening on this Mediterranean route is also responsible.

— Marga ProhensCriticizing the Spanish Prime Minister's approach to the migration issue.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El País in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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