Spanish coast guards have launched a search operation for the 11 illegal immigrants who had gone missing as they were heading towards Almeria. The operation started after the Algerian navy announced the disappearance of a boat on the night of the 23rd of August, this year. A spokesperson for the Rescue Coordination Centre stated that the 11 Algerian immigrants contacted the centre the same night of their disappearance, but the communication got lost as the boat went too far from the covered area. The Spanish coast guards are undertaking a massive search, using helicopters and search boats equipped with sophisticated radar technology to survey the entire area between Almería and Cartagena. It is assumed that the boat sank due to the strong winds that blew over the region. Illegal immigration from Algeria has increased considerably over the last few years, as more than 100 cases have been reported by the Algerian coast guards in August.