A call to 112 from a Moroccan, from Morocco, who previously received another from an occupant of one of the small boats, triggered the entire operation
BY ACN
The Maritime Rescue Service of the Ministry of Development has rescued this Saturday 76 people (73 sub-Saharans and 3 Moroccans) on board two small boats, near the coasts of Fuerteventura, proceeding to transfer them to the Port of Gran Tarajal.
The call to 112 from a Moroccan, from Morocco, who previously received another from an occupant of one of the small boats, triggered the entire operation, according to the Civil Guard.
Telephone warning
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Las Palmas received the telephone warning, reporting the presence of a small boat in waters near the east coast of Fuerteventura. The data provided did not indicate its exact position, but indicated that the small boat was a few kilometers from the coast. They were finally sighted 2.9 and 3.7 miles from Tarajalejo (Tuineje).
The Coordination Center mobilized the Helimer Canarias and the Salvamar Alphard for their search, both from Maritime Rescue, as well as the 112 helicopter from the Canary Islands, units to which a helicopter and a patrol boat from the Civil Guard were added.
Location of the small boat
Subsequent information, provided by the Civil Guard, made it possible to fix the position of the small boat and learn that another one was sailing alongside it, mobilizing the Coordination Center to the Salvamar Mizar.
After its visual location by the Helimer Canarias, the Salvamar Mizar and the Salvamar Alphard headed towards the indicated position, where they proceeded to evacuate 39 people from the first small boat and 37 from the second, all unharmed, to later proceed to transfer them to the Port of Gran Tarajal, in Fuerteventura. They will soon be taken to the El Matorral Internment Center in Puerto del Rosario.
