Migrants missing off the coast of Algeria

Twelve migrants are feared dead after disappearing in the western Mediterranean Sea approximately a week ago. Their boat departed from the Algerian coastal city of Tipaza on June 29, bound for Spain. The Alarm Phone hotline, which monitors migrants in distress at sea, reported the disappearance after receiving a notification from families of those on board who had not heard any updates since the vessel set sail.

Spanish coast guard services have not reported any interception of the boat or its passengers. The Mediterranean remains one of the most perilous migration routes globally. With favorable weather conditions during the summer months, larger numbers of boats attempt the crossing to European shores.

According to data from the International Organization for Migration's Missing Migrants program, 1,410 migrants have died or disappeared while crossing the Mediterranean this year. Of these, 225 were on the western Mediterranean route. The region continues to be a focal point for desperate journeys, often undertaken in precarious conditions.