Emerging migrant arrivals along the Alicante coast
Over the past 48 hours, the Alicante coast has seen a significant surge in migrant arrivals. A convoy of ten boats carried about 120 migrants, all of whom were rescued and taken to the port. The Red Cross prepared to receive and assess the newcomers before handing them over to National Police authorities for processing. The response involved the sea rescue service, Civil Guard, National Police, and Local Police, reflecting a coordinated effort to manage the steady inflow from Algeria. Local authorities and Red Cross personnel mobilized for two days to ensure immediate assistance and safety for the arriving individuals.
Reports indicate that there was a broad pattern of arrivals by sea, with boats detected along Moraira, Altea, Benidorm, l’Alfàs del Pi, Alicante, and Santa Pola. The spread extended to Murcia, Almeria, the Canary Islands, and the Balearic Islands. In total, the number of migrants encountered off the coast of Spain has surpassed five hundred in recent days. This trend has prompted a stronger focus on port procedures and border controls as officials adapt to the ongoing flow. This summary is based on local reporting and statements from authorities. [Citation: Local authorities]
In Alicante’s harbor, the Temporary Attention Center for Aliens (CATE) faced a growing crowd of arrivals. The National Police intensified immigration checks at the port to open case files for each person before any handover to various NGOs. The standard practice has shifted away from routine detention centers for most arrivals. Some groups were halted before continuing to international destinations, while others were identified as the individuals who would require further processing. [Citation: Immigration procedures]
Aid and care in Alicante
According to local reports, four of every ten boats reached the lighthouses of El Albir, Benidorm, and Santa Pola during the Pilar festival period. Police sources noted that 48 migrants were aboard, including three women and three children. All arrivals were brought to CATE in the port of Alicante, where Red Cross emergency response teams provided first aid, checked health conditions, and supplied food and clothing as needed. The aim was to rapidly stabilize health and comfort while authorities organized onward steps. [Citation: Police sources]
Late last night, six more boats began nearing the Alicante coastline. The first craft docked at Santa Pola carrying 15 people, among them a woman and an eight-year-old child. Around the same time, another vessel was spotted near l’Alfàs del Pi with ten men aboard. In subsequent hours, two men were detained in Altea, one with five passengers and another with 14. Near the island of Tabarca, Salvamar Leo of Salvamento Marítimo rescued 16 men at dawn. A follow-up arrival at Portet beach in Moraira occurred around seven in the morning, carrying 12 migrants. [Citation: Salvamento Marítimo]
Some boats were seen carrying inner tubes intended as improvised life preservers, a stark reminder of the risky realities of people-smuggling operations. The presence of such equipment underscores the dual dangers: exorbitant fees charged by smugglers and the lack of proper safety gear during crossings. Authorities have repeatedly emphasized the urgent need for safe, legal avenues and enhanced rescue operations to protect vulnerable individuals. [Citation: Maritime safety officials]
Earlier reports noted that last week two additional vessels reached Benidorm and La Vila Joiosa, bringing a total of 26 people, including two minors. The pattern of arrivals continues to shape local responses and ongoing cooperation between police, coast guard, and humanitarian partners. [Citation: Local agencies]