A total of 31 people were rescued from two boats in waters near Ibiza and Formentera on Saturday, 7 November, during separate operations involving Spain's Guardia Civil and Salvamento Marítimo.
The first rescue took place during the afternoon near Formentera, while a second operation was carried out later in the evening southeast of Ibiza. Both groups were reported to be of North African origin, according to information provided by the Government Delegation in the Balearic Islands.
First Rescue Near Formentera
The first intervention took place at approximately 16:05, when a boat carrying 18 people was intercepted around five nautical miles from Formentera.
The rescue involved personnel from the Guardia Civil's Provincial Maritime Service, officers from the Sant Josep Guardia Civil post and Salvamento Marítimo.
The people travelling aboard the vessel were reported to be of North African origin.
Reports differ over whether the boat was located southeast or southwest of Formentera. The distance from the island and the number of people rescued are consistent across the available coverage, but the precise compass direction has not been independently resolved.
Second Boat Located Southeast of Ibiza
A second operation took place at approximately 22:20, when another boat was located around ten nautical miles southeast of Ibiza.
There were 13 people aboard. Salvamento Marítimo and the Guardia Civil participated in the rescue.
The two maritime operations brought the total number of people rescued near Ibiza and Formentera during Saturday to 31.
Six More People Intercepted in Mallorca
The same day, authorities also intercepted six additional people of North African origin in Colònia de Sant Jordi, in the municipality of Ses Salines, Mallorca.
This was a separate operation on land and was not part of the two maritime rescues near the Pitiusas.
Including this incident, the total number of people intercepted or rescued in connection with boat arrivals across the Balearic Islands on Saturday, 7 November, reached 37, according to the original report.
The operations involved different units of the Guardia Civil and maritime rescue services, highlighting the continued work of the authorities responding to irregular sea arrivals in the Balearic Islands.