Significantly more people died or went missing in the Mediterranean in the first four months of 2026 than in the previous year, although recorded arrivals fell on several routes. This is according to new analysis by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Off the Balearic Islands small boats were intercepted repeatedly; most recently, emergency crews rescued 11 migrants south of Formentera.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) recorded, according to its Missing Migrants Project on the Central Mediterranean 821 deaths and missing people – an increase of 111 per cent compared with the same period in 2025. Arrivals on this route fell by 46 per cent to 8,577 over the same period. More than half of the deaths (430) occurred in January, when Cyclone Harry hit the region. In the Eastern Mediterranean the IOM recorded 244 deaths, an increase of 259 per cent; many victims were linked to shipwrecks near Crete .
For Spain, the organisation paints a mixed picture: arrivals on the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands fell by 78 per cent over the same period, while arrivals on the Western Mediterranean route rose by 66 per cent.
Context: The IOM attributes these developments to several factors – extreme weather, ongoing conflicts, economic pressures and changes in migration policy that affect route choices. Experts stress that a fall in recorded arrivals is not a reliable indicator of lower risks: route shifts and tighter controls may contribute to people choosing more dangerous and less well-documented crossings.
Interests and consequences: For the Balearic Islands, the recent incidents mean continued pressure on maritime rescue and initial reception services. In view of the figures, aid organisations are calling for additional search-and-rescue capacity and expanded legal routes of access. Authorities in Spain and the EU point to prevention, border management and cooperation with third countries; the details remain politically contentious.
Outlook: It is unclear whether the rise in deaths will continue. Conditions will likely be influenced by the weather in the coming months, developments in conflicts along the routes and the effects of new measures.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).