Two men have died aboard a pirogue found adrift after spending a week in the Atlantic off the coast of Dakhla (Sahara), with 106 other people on board, EFE was informed by sources from the emergency services at the port of Arguineguín (Gran Canaria).
The vessel was located about 275 kilometers southeast of El Hierro on Wednesday afternoon by a cargo ship en route, the Sara M, which alerted the Spanish authorities. Its crew and that of another merchant ship, the Eurostar, offered water and some medication to its occupants while the rescue boat, the Guardamar Urania, arrivedAccording to Maritime Rescue, on board the pirogue there were 74 men (one already deceased and another who died during the rescue), 20 women, and four children, exposed to very rough seas, waves of two to three meters, and winds of up to 65 kilometers per hour**One of the survivors was evacuated** by helicopter to Doctor Negrín Hospital during the crossing to Arguineguín. The rest and the two bodies arrived at port with the Guardamar Urania after 5:30 PM, following almost 18 hours of navigation
For the moment, more details about the nationalities of the people on board the pirogue and their departure point are unknown. It has only been reported that they told healthcare personnel they had already been at sea for a week.
