“We still don’t know what happened”
Three people are confirmed dead, another three are missing, following a shipwreck off the coast of Marinha Grande (Leiria district) in the early hours of this morning.
The fishing boat “Virgem Dolorosa” started capsizing at around 4.30am which is when the first alert was sounded.
Talking to reporters, ports captain and local commander of the Figueira da Foz maritime police Pedro Cervaens Costa said: “We still don’t know what happened. The boat capsized a mile west of São Pedro do Moel. The waves were not considerable. The causes have to be ascertained”.
There were 17 people on board, 11 of whom have been rescued alive.
Search and rescue operations, with the help of an air force helicopter, a Nazaré drone and a diving team are still underway, while president Marcelo has already started being in touch with families, to transmit his condolences.
According to mayor of Marinha Grande, Aurélio Ferreira, the “Virgem Dolorosa” is a 24 by 6 metre trawler with a port in Figueira da Foz.
Most of the people on board were from Figueira da Foz (Leirosa), with two crew members from Indonesia who have been rescued alive.
The wreck is ‘localised and visible’, in the words of Cervaens Costa. A video of maritime police approaching it can be seen here. As president Marcelo has said: “This is a tragedy for us all”.
natasha.donn@portugalresident.com
