At least 17 migrants feared dead off Mallorca after boat drifts for 15 days

Two North African men, the sole survivors of a perilous journey to Spain's Balearic Islands, have reported that 17 other passengers died at sea. Rescuers found the men dehydrated and malnourished, 13 nautical miles southwest of Mallorca, after their boat had drifted for 15 days. The survivors told rescue crews that 17 others on board had perished, though the statement did not specify the cause of death.

Spanish sea rescue services launched a helicopter search in the area where the migrants were found and issued a warning to nearby vessels. The incident highlights the ongoing dangers faced by migrants attempting to reach Europe from North Africa. The Balearic Islands, a popular tourist destination, have increasingly become a target for migrants traveling by boat from North Africa, particularly Algeria.

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The most heartless face of the migrant crisis is hitting the Balearics again.

Regional President Marga Prohens described the situation as the "most heartless face of the migrant crisis" hitting the Balearics again. She called on the central government in Madrid to develop a concrete plan to address the migration crisis the islands are facing. This plea comes after a separate incident last week where approximately 70,000 migrants crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco, resulting in at least 75 deaths.

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There are no other accounts of these people, apart from the passengers' testimony.