Six boats, 75 people: When the nights on the coasts grow denser

Rescues in series — and the question of how long this can last

On a warm summer night, when the sea is interrupted only by the rustle of the waves and the distant lights of fishing boats, six small vessels arrived in quick succession on the coasts of the Balearic Islands. From Punta Sa Fragata on Formentera across the sandy cove of Migjorn to the bypass road near San José on Ibiza: a total of 75 people were recovered or stopped ashore in recent hours by the Guardia Civil, sea rescue services, the navy and local police forces.

A brief chronology of the landings

The operations began on Saturday afternoon at around 1:50 pm near Formentera, when 16 people were discovered on a rocky stretch. In the evening there were two major landings: at about 8:30 pm around 17 people at Playa Migjorn, and just minutes later roughly 18 people south of the island — the latter operation also involved helicopters and sea rescuers. Around 9:05 pm another 12 people landed at Es Cupinar, during the night police stopped a boat with eight people near San José, and on Sunday morning emergency services took four people at Cala Egos on Mallorca.

Who arrives — numbers, origin, immediate care

Authorities mainly speak of people of North African origin; at least one group included people from sub-Saharan Africa. The rescued were medically screened, registered and in part taken to reception facilities. The process looks routine: dry blankets, first-aid tables, questions about name, age and origin — and the search for the next step.

What residents and helpers report

Early one morning at the harbour in Santanyí, before the sun warmed the white facades, I spoke with an old fisherman. He was polishing his nets while seagulls cried and the smell of diesel from passing boats hung in the air. "You often see them at night, sometimes barely a hundred or two hundred metres off the coast. We call, we help, but we can do little to change things," he said, rubbing a coffee spoon in his hands. Such observations reflect what many residents recount: clothing on the beach, tired faces, small groups quickly registered before the routine continues.

The unasked questions — what is underexposed in public debate

The chronology of operations is important, but it does not tell the whole story. Three aspects often remain underexposed: first, the strain on local services. Paramedics, rescue boats and administrative staff have been working at the limits of their capacity for weeks — especially in municipalities already facing tight budgets. Second, the mental state of those on board: many are exhausted, have experienced trauma, and need more than a brief medical check. Third, the risk of recurrence: if crossings become routine, structures on land change — from the capacity of reception centres to the patience of residents.

Key question: How prepared are the islands if nights like this become the norm?

The Guardia Civil and sea rescue operate as the first line — that is undeniable. But what happens if the number of arrivals continues to rise? Do we need, in addition to rapid rescue, longer-term plans at municipal level, better infrastructure for initial reception and clearer agreements between the Balearic government, the central government and the EU? And how can municipalities like Santanyí be supported so that the burden does not rest on just a few ports?

Concrete approaches we should hear about

Some pragmatic steps could be implemented quickly: better night shifts and coordinated patrols for earlier detection, mobile medical teams able to provide initial psychological care, and clear information channels for residents so rumours and fears do not spread. In the medium term there is a need for financial support for municipal reception facilities, stronger cooperation with EU initiatives against smuggling networks and programmes for integration or relocation that offer sustainable solutions instead of temporary accommodation.

Looking ahead — an island society put to the test

Tonight was another test: for emergency services, for local administrations and for the patience of island residents. If arrivals increase, it is not only the task of the Guardia Civil or sea rescue, but a question of how communities on Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera hold together and plan. The solution is not found in simple slogans, but in coordinated measures that combine humanity, efficiency and local realities.

For many of the rescued, a bureaucratic process now begins. For island residents, a debate starts on how the Balearics will cope if the nights grow denser.