Kathmandu— Officials in Spain’s Murcia region have requested an explanation from the central government in Madrid after a boat carrying 62 migrants landed on Cala del Barco, a crowded beach near Cartagena, on Wednesday afternoon. The arrival has sparked debate over border security and coordination between national and regional authorities, coming less than a month after a significant influx of migrants crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The group, consisting of 45 adult men, 15 boys, and two adult women, all believed to be Algerian nationals, disembarked from an inflatable boat directly onto the beach, startling tourists.

Regional Leaders Demand Accountability

Murcia regional president Fernando Lopez Miras expressed concern over what he characterized as a seemingly “organized” arrival. He questioned how such a large vessel could reach Spanish shores undetected and criticized the lack of visible presence from the Ministry of Interior personnel. "We don’t understand how a vessel of that size can reach our shores without being intercepted, without being detected, without any kind of control," Miras stated, according to Murcia Plaza.

Concerns Over Border Control

Cartagena Mayor Noelia Arroyo echoed these concerns, emphasizing the need for a more robust migration policy. She argued that the incident highlighted deficiencies in maritime border control and questioned how the boat was able to disembark passengers in full view of the public before dispersing into the La Manga Club complex. "If a migrant boat can reach a cove like this, disembark in full view of citizens and then leave, we have to ask ourselves how our maritime borders are being controlled," Arroyo said.

Recent Influx Prompts Scrutiny

The incident follows the arrival of over 72,000 migrants into Ceuta late last month, which prompted criticism of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s left-wing government and accusations of lax border security. Sanchez responded to the Ceuta crossing by condemning it as a “violation of Spain’s territorial integrity” and pledging to strengthen border controls, while also blaming human smuggling networks and misinformation on social media. He further criticized other European nations, such as Italy, for suspending border-free travel with Spain in response to the crisis.

All 62 migrants have been located by authorities, received medical attention from the Red Cross, and are now in police custody. The Murcia regional government continues to press Madrid for answers regarding the circumstances surrounding this latest arrival.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.