"Unprecedented activity" along the route from Algeria to Sardinia. This is one of the findings emerging from the latest report by Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, which notes a steady increase in crossings into Italy, with a monthly record reached in September . This phenomenon is reflected in the continuous landings recorded in recent weeks, especially along the coast of Sulcis.
The route between North Africa and the south of the island is now well-established. Departures are primarily from the Algerian coast, with the port of Annaba among the main points of reference: approximately 130 miles separate the town from Sardinia . A crossing that, in favorable conditions, can last up to eleven hours.
This picture is part of a broader European trend. In the first ten months of 2026, irregular border crossings into the European Union decreased by 29% compared to the same period in 2025, to approximately 110,000. The decline affected nearly all major migration routes, with the exception of the Western Mediterranean, where detections increased by 21%. In October alone, approximately 18,100 crossings were recorded, 6% fewer than a year earlier, but 22% more than in September. The monthly increase is primarily due to the growth in arrivals along the West African route to the Canary Islands.
The Central and Eastern Mediterranean remain the busiest routes, accounting for nearly 60% of irregular entries into the EU. Specifically, the Eastern Mediterranean recorded approximately 38,200 crossings, a 12% decrease, while the Central Mediterranean saw the sharpest decline, with 26,600 arrivals, a 55% drop. Libya remains the main country of departure along the latter route, accounting for approximately three-quarters of arrivals.
The decrease in crossings, however, has not been matched by a reduction in the human cost of these journeys. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), over 2,000 people have lost their lives in the Mediterranean since the beginning of the year.
(Unioneonline/D)
