The two skippers of the skiff that departed on Friday from the coast of Algeria towards Formentera and had to be rescued after being shipwrecked 60 miles off the coast of Ibiza and Formentera have been arrested and charged with reckless homicide, a charge for which the court has decreed late on Monday their provisional imprisonment. They are also accused of a crime against foreign citizens.
The investigation through the testimonies of the crew members has led to the conclusion that the tragedy was much greater than what was known until now. And the fact is that not only the two occupants that were known so far died, but between five and six more people lost their lives at sea, as reported Monday night by the Civil Guard. “After the open investigation and according to the statement of the crew members, could have died in the accident between 5 and 6 immigrants whose bodies could not be found by Maritime Rescue” have indicated from the Civil Guard. According to the Guardia Civil, the boat was traveling at an unduly high speed given the poor sea conditions, with the consequent danger to the crew and the skippers themselves. Thus, 60 nautical miles from Formentera, the skiff was shipwrecked. Salvamento Marítimo rescued the boat with 13 people on board, the two skippers and 11 crew members. Of these, two had died and one was seriously injured and was admitted to the Hospital de Can Misses. Helimer, a Salvamento Marítimo helicopter, and a plane of the Civil Guard air service took part in the rescue.
- Dramatic rescue in Formentera: two dead and one seriously injured in a skiff with 13 migrants
