Portuguese navy boosts patrols after rare migrant landing
by AFP Staff Writers
Lisbon (AFP) Aug 9, 2025

Portugal's Navy said Saturday it has increased patrols along the country's southern coast following the arrival of a migrant boat, a rare destination among migrant routes from North Africa to Europe.

The wooden boat, carrying 38 people, landed Friday evening near the town of Vila do Bispo in Portugal's southernmost Algarve province at around 8 p.m. (1900 GMT), the GNR police unit said in a statement.

"The migrants were in a debilitated state and in need of medical care, showing signs of dehydration and hypothermia," the statement said, adding that 10 migrants were taken to hospital for medical observation.

Officials did not disclose the nationalities of those aboard or the boat's departure point, only confirming that seven minors and six women were among the passengers.

Public broadcaster RTP reported that the vessel had departed from Morocco and spent six days at sea before reaching Portugal.

While hundreds of thousands of migrants have crossed the Mediterranean to southern Europe in recent years, they have rarely headed to Portugal, located on Europe's southwest Atlantic coast.

The Portuguese Navy said it had "immediately" stepped up surveillance along the Algarve coast following the landing and urged residents to report any suspicious vessels.

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