Ten migrants, including two minors, have arrived by small boat in Benidorm, according to Red Cross sources cited by Europa Press.
The group consisted of eight men and two children, all of whom were reported to be in good health on arrival.
They were later transferred to the port of Alicante, where the Red Cross provided overnight assistance in the early hours of the morning.
Lowest arrival figures in a decade
The group are the first migrants to reach the Valencian coastline in 2026, following a year in which 340 people arrived by sea in the Comunitat Valenciana.
That figure represents almost half the number recorded in previous years and is the lowest total of the past decade, despite emergency services reporting that migrants tended to arrive in poorer health, particularly with injuries.
Official data confirms a downward trend on this migration route. In 2024, 643 people arrived by sea in the Valencian Community, while 776 were recorded the year before.
Shift in Mediterranean routes
The decline has been attributed to the opening of alternative Mediterranean routes, particularly those heading towards the Balearic Islands, which has reduced the overall number of arrivals along the Valencian coast in recent years.
