Migrant deaths rise sharply on Algerian route to Spain

A significant increase in migrant fatalities has been reported along the Algerian route in the Western Mediterranean. According to a report by Caminando Fronteras covering the first five months of 2026, 507 people died on this route, representing a 54.6% increase compared to the same period in 2025. This route, which primarily targets the Balearic Islands and the Spanish mainland, has become the deadliest migratory path to Spain.

Recent incidents highlight the severity of the situation. In August, a boat found drifting for 15 days yielded only two survivors, who reported that 17 others had died and been thrown overboard. In a separate shipwreck near Cabrera, authorities rescued 17 people and recovered two bodies, suspecting the vessel may have originally carried at least 30 passengers.