SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 21st June (EUROPA PRESS) –
Today, Friday, the cruise ship ‘Insignia’ arrived at the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife at approximately 5:30 a.m. It carried 67 rescued migrants and the bodies of 6 individuals who unfortunately did not survive during the voyage on the Canary Islands route aboard a small boat. The rescued individuals, consisting of 61 men, 3 women, and 3 minors, are of sub-Saharan descent.
The rescued individuals are currently receiving care from a significant healthcare team comprising personnel from the Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC), Primary Care staff, and volunteers from the Red Cross, with the assistance of the National Police and the Civil Guard. Four shelters have been assembled to provide aid to the survivors.
Five of the rescued migrants have already been transferred to various healthcare facilities. One individual in a critical condition was taken to the Ntra. Sra. de Candelaria University Hospital, while the others are in stable and mild conditions.
The cruise ship ‘Insignia’, en route from Gambia to Tenerife, came across this small boat with 5 deceased individuals and 68 survivors early on Thursday, after 00:30 am. The oil tanker ‘Philipp Oldendorff’ initially sighted the drifting small boat with people aboard, located 440 miles (815 km) south of Tenerife, and provided initial assistance to those on board.
Subsequently, the cruise ship ‘Insignia’ was diverted to the area, where it ultimately rescued a total of 68 survivors, in addition to 3 more deceased individuals, leaving the small boat adrift with 2 others who could not be saved due to adverse weather conditions in the vicinity.
Reports from the ‘Insignia’ crew indicated that one of the rescued individuals was in critical condition and required immediate evacuation. The Helimer 201 helicopter was dispatched for the rescue mission, but the onboard doctor later confirmed the individual’s passing. The helicopter then returned to Tenerife South Airport, where it had departed from.
Maritime Rescue requested an official headcount of the rescued individuals from the vessel that conducted the rescue operation. The ‘Insignia’ headed towards Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where it arrived today, Friday, around 5:30 a.m.
Maritime Rescue deployed the sea guard vessel ‘Urania’, which initially made contact with the passenger ship ‘Insignia’ in case it required any support or aid; subsequently, it proceeded to locate the small boat using a searchlight provided by the cruise ship.
The weather conditions in the region have been severe, and the emergency coordination has been overseen by the Tenerife Maritime Rescue Centre under the guidance of the Tenerife Maritime Captaincy.
A gesture of appreciation to the ‘Insignia’ vessel, which offered assistance to the individuals on the small boat, is being planned in the form of a commendation by the Maritime Captain of Tenerife, José Antonio Conde, and the Head of the Maritime Rescue Centre in Tenerife, María Dolores Septien.
