Migrants from North Africa missing after leaping from boat near Spain’s Balearic Islands

Twelve migrants are missing after having leapt from a boat while heading for Spain's Balearic archipelago in the Mediterranean, the authorities have said.

Another 14 migrants were rescued from the same vessel 58 kilometres southeast of the island of Cabrera, local officials said on Saturday.

The rescued migrants told officials that 12 passengers had leapt from the boat on Friday, the local authority said in a statement.

Spain's civil guard and the coastguard were searching for the missing people, who were from North Africa, the statement added.

The migration route from North Africa to the Balearics has seen a surge this year, according to interior ministry figures.