Immigrant killed after boat crash in the Canary Islands
Capsized vessel reportedly carried 25 passengers from Morocco, of which seven are still missing
An immigrant has died and seven remain missing after a boat reportedly carrying 25 passengers capsized yesterday morning near Costa Teguise, on the island of Lanzarote.
The fatal accident occurred after a Civil Guard patrol that had gone to intercept the boat crashed into the immigrants’ craft.
After the impact, the four patrol guards took to the water and managed to save 17 people, two of them minors. Survivors told the rescuers that there had been 25 people on board. One of those saved was suffering an anxiety attack; his brother was one of the missing people.
Only one body has been recovered a mile away.
The immigrants had boarded their vessel at Sidi-Ifni in the Moroccan province of Tiznit, and had been traveling since Monday.
Sea and air rescue services continue to search for the missing passengers and an investigation into the incident has been opened.
