The Ombudsman investigates the shipwreck of the boat that left two dead and 34 missing when it was heading to the Canary Islands
The Ombudsman has initiated an ex officio action to request information on the shipwreck of a pneumatic boat that was heading to the Canary Islands in which two immigrants died and another 34 disappeared.
As explained by the institution, the action is carried out both before the Canary Islands Regional Coordination Center of the Coordination Authority Against Irregular Immigration, as well as before the Maritime Rescue and Safety Society (Sasemar).
The Ombudsman requests information on the coordination measures adopted in this regard and the actions carried out during the rescue operation of that pneumatic, in which 60 people were traveling, which was assumed by Morocco, although it was not carried out until after 10 hours of its location, despite the fact that Spain had a Maritime Rescue ship in another operation just an hour away.
Maritime Rescue Explanations
In a statement released this Friday, Maritime Rescue ensures that it has complied with international search and rescue procedures in the pneumatic emergency 40 miles from the African coast. Remember that the incident alert occurred in an area shared between Spain and Morocco, at a point closer to the African coast, 40 miles from Blaya (Morocco) compared to 88 miles away from Gran Canaria, so Rabat expressly assumed coordination and mobilized resources to proceed with the rescue.
Regarding the nearby ship, the Guardamar Calliope, Salvamento points out that it could not go as it was heading to the port after rescuing 63 people, several of whom needed attention due to their condition.