SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 21 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Yesterday, Saturday, the Maritime Rescue Service successfully rescued two vessels carrying around 130 people in waters near the island of Lanzarote, with two individuals having tragically lost their lives during the voyage, as confirmed by sources from the public institution as reported by Europa Press.
The rescue operation was initiated in the morning after the Maritime Rescue Centre in Las Palmas received an alert regarding multiple vessels departing from the Moroccan town of Tan Tan. Subsequently, the Sasemar 103 aircraft was deployed, locating several overcrowded vessels heading towards the Canary Islands.
Maritime Rescue promptly activated the lifeboat ‘Al Nair’ and the coastguard vessel ‘Talía’. The latter vessel approached the first vessel, while the ship ‘Adnan N’, directed to the location by maritime controllers, also provided assistance.
Upon arrival, the ship reported spotting a vessel one mile ahead, prompting the Rescue Centre to instruct it to maintain a safe escort until the coastguard vessel ‘Talía’ arrived.
By approximately 18:00, the coastguard vessel completed the rescue of all occupants, estimated to be between 50 and 60, including 10 women and 3 minors. Some individuals had to be retrieved from the water during the operation, although all rescued individuals appeared to be in good health. Tragically, it was reported that two people had lost their lives during the journey.
Simultaneously, the rescue boat ‘Al Nair’ proceeded towards the second vessel, which the controllers had directed the vessel ‘Sarika Naree’ towards. Upon reaching the designated position, no sighting was made, similar to the situation with the vessel ‘Sarika Narre’.
Following an extended search, with the support of the coastguard vessel ‘Talía’, the second vessel was eventually rescued at around 19:20 by the crew of the coastguard vessel ‘Al Nair’. Seventy individuals, sub-Saharan Africans (comprising 58 men, 11 women, and 1 child), were safely disembarked in Arrecife.
