198 minors reach Formentera: state withholds boat risk
Formentera has received 198 confirmed under-18s between January and August this year. The island council says the state had information pointing to a high risk of more migrant boats reaching the Balearics but did not share it with island authorities. Council president Óscar Portas calls that unacceptable.
The Consell Insular de Formentera says 253 arrivals were initially assessed as possible minors, with 198 later confirmed to be under 18. That is 75.2 per cent more minors than arrived on the island during all of 2025. July and August alone brought 84 under-18s.
Formentera is one of the main entry points for irregular migration to the Balearics, Portas says. He argues that the island needs early information to prepare staff and scale its resources, particularly given its size, population and limited space, equipment and personnel.
On Friday, Portas told senator Neus Massanet that communication with the state must improve. The council wants direct information from the Government Delegation on the number of boats and people arriving, rather than receiving it after resources have already had to be activated.
It is also calling for more staff, technical support and health resources for the first care given to people arriving irregularly. The council says checks at the point of arrival should identify possible illnesses and other health needs.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com