SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 28 (EUROPA PRESS)
This Saturday, nine migrants have tragically lost their lives, while another 48 individuals are unaccounted for following the capsizing of a canoe as they attempted to reach the island of El Hierro, as reported by rescue sources to Europa Press. Maritime.
The incident occurred last night at approximately 12:15 a.m., when the Emergency and Security Coordinating Centre (Cecoes) 1-1-2 alerted the Tenerife Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre after a distress call was received from a canoe carrying 84 individuals on board.
Rescue controllers swiftly activated the Concepción Arenal offshore patrol, which located a capsized canoe 4 miles south of the port of La Estaca, with its occupants having fallen into the sea. Efforts to rescue 27 survivors were successful.
It appears that the canoe capsized during the rescue operations due to its occupants shifting weight to one side. The rescue was further complicated by the night-time conditions and adverse weather, including wind gusts reaching around 20 knots.
During the operation, the Adhara rescue vessel managed to recover nine bodies, while searches continue for the 48 missing persons. The 27 survivors received medical assistance at the port of La Estaca, with three of them transferred to Hospital Nuestra Señora de los Reyes: one for hypothermia, another for dehydration, and a third for moderate shoulder trauma.
The search operation includes the Mizar offshore patrol, the Callíope offshore patrol, the Heroínas de Sálvora vessel, and the Cuco helicopter of the Civil Guard. The Helimer 201 helicopter is anticipated to join the search efforts soon after having conducted a search of the area overnight, alongside the GES helicopter from the Government of the Canary Islands based in El Hierro.
