Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 17th February. (Europa Press) –
Maritime rescue operations successfully retrieved a Cayuco on the afternoon of Sunday, containing 61 migrants in waters close to the island of Tenerife, as reported by the Emergency and Security Coordinating Centre of the 112 service in the Canary Islands.
The Cayuco was spotted on Sunday afternoon by a ferry at approximately 4:35 p.m. The state agency issued a statement on 16th February, indicating that the Ferry Benchijigua Express alerted the maritime rescue centre in Tenerife after observing a Cayuco around 13 miles from Los Cristianos.
Meanwhile, nearby was the ferry Teno Volcano, which altered its course towards the specified location. A few minutes later, it confirmed the presence of the Cayuco and reported that it was following the vessel. Following this, Salvamento mobilised the Salvamar Alpheratz, which, at 5:25 p.m., informed the ferry that the Cayuco had been sighted, allowing it to resume its route to its destination, Los Cristianos, while the Salvamar escorted the Cayuco to the harbour.
Upon arrival at the harbour of Los Cristianos, the Health Service of the Emergency Service (SUC), Primary Care, and the Red Cross provided aid to the migrants, with three of them requiring transfer to a hospital.