Watch The Med Alarm Phone Investigations – 4th of February 2020
Case name: 2020_04_02- WM449
Situation: 58 travelers in distress from around Nador, rescued to Morocco, 5 travelers in distress from Al Hoceima, rescued to Spain
Status of WTM Investigation: Concluded
Place of Incident: Western Mediterranean

On the 4th of February the Alarm Phone was alerted to two boats in distress between Morocco and Spain. The first boat, carrying 58 travellers, was rescued by the Moroccan navy and brought back to Morocco. The second boat, carrying 5 travellers, was rescued by the Spanish search and rescue organisation Salvamento Maritimo and brought to Motril.

At 11:08am CET the Alarm Phone was altered to a boat in distress with 58 travelers, 15 women and 2 children, who left from around Nador at 2am. People on the boat were in desperate need for help since water was entering the boat and they had already called the coast guards themselves. As soon as the Alarm Phone received the information MRCC Rabat was informed. At 12:36pm the Alarm Phone received a confirmation from the travellers that they were rescued to Morocco, followed by a confirmation from MRCC Rabat.

At 9:45pm CET the Alarm Phone was alerted to a boat in distress with 5 travelers including 1 minor who left Al Hoceima at 5am. A friend of the travelers informed the Alarm Phone that the engine was broken and that Salvamento Maritimo needed to be altered. At 10:29pm the Alarm Phone called MRCC Madrid and informed them about the boat in distress. MRCC informed us that Guardia Civil Granada was aware of the case since the morning and was in charge of the rescue, however, they had lost trace of the boat. At 00:24am the Alarm Phone received a confirmation from MRCC Madrid that the people had been rescued to Motril, however we were unable to receive a confirmation from the travelers themselves, only activists from Motril have confirmed the arrival of 5 men.