World
Portugal Fishing Boat Tragedy
Learn about the tragic fishing boat incident off the coast of Portugal, as the community mourns the loss of lives and investigates the cause of this devastating event. Stay informed on the latest updates.
At least three individuals have tragically lost their lives, and seven more are currently unaccounted for following a devastating incident where a fishing vessel carrying 17 crew members capsized off the Atlantic coast of central Portugal. The Portuguese Maritime Authority has confirmed this distressing news, shedding light on the severity of the situation.
The harrowing event took place between São Pedro de Moel beach and Vieira beach, situated north of Lisbon, with the distressed individuals on the boat reportedly in a state of shock. Reports indicate that two crew members have sustained severe injuries, adding to the gravity of the situation.
The National Maritime Authority swiftly responded to the emergency, receiving the alert around 4:30 a.m. Immediate action was taken, with four nearby fishing vessels undertaking search and rescue operations to locate survivors amidst the turmoil at sea.
The response efforts involved the deployment of maritime police and coast guard boats, which raced to the scene to assist in the operation. Additionally, two boats from the Nazaré and Figueira da Foz Lifeguard Station were mobilized, along with an aerial surveillance team from the local Nazaré Maritime Police Command and an aircraft from the Portuguese Air Force.
Coordinated efforts from various response teams, including rescuers from the “SeaWatch” Project, the National Maritime Authority, and the Forensic Diving Group of the Maritime Police, are currently engaged in search and rescue missions in the area. The search for the missing crew members is ongoing as authorities work tirelessly to locate them.
Commander Cervaens da Costa of Figueira da Foz expressed, “In any case, the proximity to the coast has some significance, there may also have been some natural influence from the sea, but that’s something we’ll be investigating.” The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident is underway as the community mourns the loss and hopes for the safe return of those still missing.