Officers of the National Police have launched an investigation into the disappearance of a group of migrants who, according to preliminary information, left Algeria in a small boat about ten days ago. Five people were rescued, but the remaining passengers, according to the survivors, left the vessel in open sea, attempting to swim to shore.
Rescue operation near Cabrera
The boat was found 40 nautical miles south of Cabrera island, already adrift and without control. The rescue crew brought the five survivors to the port of Ibiza, where they received medical and humanitarian assistance. According to their account, there were initially 23 people on board, but after days at sea, most decided to take a desperate step—jumping overboard in hopes of reaching land on their own.
Incident details and investigation progress
According to authorities, aerial patrols from a base in Alicante detected the drifting boat after an NGO reported its departure from Algeria. A rescue team was dispatched to the scene, where five people still on board were found.
After arriving at the port of Ibiza, the survivors were taken into police custody. Some required hospitalization at Can Misses Hospital due to exhaustion and hypothermia. Police continue to investigate the disappearance of the other passengers and are working to determine exactly where they left the boat.
Search for the missing and next steps
At present, rescue teams and law enforcement are awaiting further information to determine the area for launching a search and rescue operation. The exact number of missing is still unconfirmed, but preliminary data suggest at least 18 people are involved. Authorities emphasize that the situation remains extremely tense, with search efforts hampered by adverse weather conditions and the vast area that needs to be covered.
The tragedy has once again drawn attention to the dangerous routes migrants take to reach Europe, risking their lives at sea. The search operation continues, and rescuers are holding out hope for a miracle despite the time that has passed since the incident.
