East African migrants drive surge of arrivals in Spain's Balearic islands

A couple of sub-saharan migrants embrace in a public park after arriving from Algeria earlier in the day, as more than 30 boats carrying about 600 irregular migrants have reached the Balearic Islands since Monday, according to officials, in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, August 12, 2025. REUTERS/Francisco Ubilla

PALMA/BARCELONA, Spain (Reuters) -More than 30 boats carrying about 600 irregular migrants have arrived in Spain's Balearic islands since Monday, officials said, as a new migratory route from North Africa gains traction after a crackdown by authorities in other jumping off points.

Overall, irregular migration to Spain has fallen this year, but it has risen by 170% in the Balearics in the first six months to around 3,000 people, official data shows. The number of boats, mostly departing from Algeria, more than doubled.