The bodies belong to two men, although for the moment their identities and causes of death are unknown. Nor can it be confirmed whether they are migrants who died during a crossing.
However, it is worth remembering that in mid-December two migrants lost their lives in a small boat during the crossing between North Africa and Formentera. The occupants of the boat said at the time that five or six more migrants may have died in that incident, although their bodies were not found.
Formentera is the smallest and most southerly island of the Pityusic Islands group (comprising Ibiza and Formentera itself, as well as various small islets). It covers an area of 83.24 square kilometres (32.14 sq mi), including offshore islets. At the 2011 Census, the population was 10,583; according to the Census of 1 January 2021, it counted 11,891 inhabitants, while the official estimate as at 1 January 2023 was 11,389.
Spain continues to face significant migrant arrivals. While the Canary Islands recorded record numbers in 2024, the Balearic Islands are also struggling to cope with migrants reaching its shores. Meanwhile, the government in Madrid appears to be falling short in providing adequate support to the regions most overwhelmed with migration.
Spain continues to be on the forefront of irregular migration to Europe, as record-breaking numbers of people reached the Canary Islands archipelago in 2024. At least 46,843 people have made the dangerous crossing from the African mainland to the island group, surpassing previous years.
But the Canary Islands aren't the only islands experiencing an increase in migrant arrivals; the Balearics are also seeing a rise in migration. Nearly 6,000 migrants arrived in the Balearic Islands in 2024 -- almost three times the number from the previous year. 5,924 migrants disembarked there in 2024, compared with 2,278 in 2023. According to the migrant charity Caminando Fronteras, at least 517 people have died in 2024 on this migration route in 2024.
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