The Balearic Civil Guard confirmed on 25 September that a total of 173 migrants arrived on the tiny island of Formentera aboard six small wooden boats (pateras) between 22 and 24 September—an unusually high figure for the low-season tourist enclave. Most occupants are believed to be Algerian and Tunisian nationals who departed from the Gulf of Gabès, taking advantage of calm late-summer seas. Formentera’s permanent population is just 13,000, and the island has no dedicated migrant-holding facility; arrivals were temporarily housed in a sports centre while awaiting transfer to Ibiza for identification and PCR health screening. Regional authorities warned that emergency accommodation would be “at breaking point” if another wave were to coincide with the October long weekend, when hotel beds are scarce due to domestic tourism. The uptick underscores a broader west-Mediterranean shift as smugglers test secondary routes to avoid enhanced patrols around the Canary Islands and Ceuta. The Balearic Port Authority has requested additional maritime-police units and thermal-imaging drones to extend coverage beyond the usual summer surge. Yacht-charter companies and event planners operating out of Ibiza and Formentera should anticipate harbour-entry controls and potential berth re-allocation as security zones are expanded. Cruise-ship agents may see tighter ISPS (International Ship and Port Facility Security) checks, which could affect crew-change logistics and shore-excursion timings.
Source: España Times
