Madrid opens investigation on ferry boats collision in Gibraltar strait
Morocco, Local, 7/21/2000

Spanish authorities have opened an investigation to determine responsibilities in the tragic collision last Sunday off the southern port of Algesiras wherein five Moroccans living in Europe died and 17 others, including a Spaniard, were injured.

Moroccan minister of transport and merchant navy, Mustapha Mansouri, who made the announcement at the question time at the House of Representatives (lower house of the parliament) Wednesday said Spanish authorities have opened a maritime technical investigation in line with international conventions, as the accident occurred in Spanish waters and involved two ferries flying Spanish flag.

Morocco has however asked Spain to associate, as observers, Moroccan experts to the investigation team, Mansouri said.

On the morrow of the accident, Morocco requested Spain to give clarifications on the circumstances of the tragic collision and at the instructions of King Mohammed VI, advisor to the King, Mrs. Zoulikha Nasri, and a Moroccan medical team, dispatched by the Mohammed V solidarity foundation, headed to Algesiras to inquire about the situation of victims and extend them and their relatives the necessary assistance.

The team supervised Thursday the repatriation of the corpses. One of the deceased persons will be buried in Tangier, three in Al-Hoceima and one in Ouarzazate.

The injured persons and the relatives of the victims were also repatriated Thursday.

The accident victims included a woman, her two-month old baby, two children aged 5 and 7 and an 18-year old young man. They were all on a ship leaving Algesiras for the Moroccan northern city of Tangier that was carrying nearly 300 passengers.

Another ship that was entering the port rammed the starboard side of the ferry, gouging a hole in the hull next to passenger lounge below deck.

Hundreds of thousands of North Africans living in Europe converge on Algesiras every summer to take ferries home for vacation. July is one of the busiest months for ship traffic, with about 50 vessels leaving Algesiras every day for Tangiers and other Northern Moroccan ports.

Nearly two million Moroccans are settled in Europe.

Previous Stories:
  Four people killed in traffic accident   (3/6/2000)
  Three people killed in road accident   (7/13/1999)
  King Hassan condoles families of tragic road accident victims   (5/29/1999)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search