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Three migrants die on a boat heading to Mallorca

Published July 16, 2026 at 5:32 PM UTC

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Three migrants have died while attempting to reach the Spanish island of Mallorca by boat. Spanish authorities confirmed that a vessel carrying 26 people was intercepted late Wednesday night approximately 60 nautical miles south of the island. While 23 individuals were rescued alive, survivors reported that three others had passed away during the perilous journey across the Mediterranean. According to the accounts provided by the survivors, the deaths occurred on separate days throughout the crossing. Faced with the grim reality of a small, overcrowded, and unseaworthy vessel, the remaining passengers made the difficult decision to cast the bodies of the deceased into the sea as they continued their attempt to reach safety. The rescue operation involved multiple agencies, including Salvamento Marítimo, the Civil Guard’s Maritime Service, and the Fiscal and Borders Detachment of the Port of Palma. This incident marks another tragic event in the ongoing migration crisis affecting the Balearic Islands. Official data indicates that 3,231 migrants have arrived in the archipelago via 172 boats so far this year. This follows a significant increase in arrivals in 2025, when over 7,300 people reached the islands. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as the number of small boats attempting the crossing from North Africa remains high, highlighting the extreme risks faced by those seeking to reach European shores.