Two ferry boats collide in gibraltar strait: 5 Moroccans killed, 17 injured

Five Moroccans living in Europe died and 17 others, including a Spaniard, were injured when two ferry boats collided early Sunday in the Strait of Gibraltar, off the southern port of Algesiras.

Following the tragic accident, Morocco's King Mohammed VI sent a message of condolences to the bereaved families. "We have been deeply moved by this accident… and we express to all the families of the victims and the injured persons our condolences and heartfelt sympathy," the royal message stated.

At the sovereign's instructions, advisor to the King, Mrs Zoulikha Nasri, headed to Algesiras to inquire about the situation of victims.

Immediately upon arrival, she met with the staff of the Moroccan general consulate and with delegates of the Hassan II Foundation for Moroccan expatriates and visited the injured persons in hospital. She equally called on the relatives of the deceased persons.

The accident victims included a woman, a 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.

Several sources imputed the accident to the fog that was prevailing in the strait, but trade union sources were quoted by Spanish media as saying the accident might have been caused by the tiredness of the crew members who work hard aboard the ferries shuttling between Southern Spain and Northern Morocco.

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.