Watch The Med Alarm Phone Investigations – March 6th 2021

Case name: 2021_03_06-CM383

Situation: 12 men departed from Annaba, motor break down, intercepted to Algeria by Algerian coast guard

Status of WTM Investigation: Concluded

Place of Incident: Central Mediterranean

Summary of Case

In the evening of March 6th Alarmphone was contacted by a relative of a person on a boat which left from Anaba, Algeria carrying 11 people, on March 5th. The relative was very worried since they had not received any news from their family member since the boat had departed. At 01.09 CET March 7th we called MRCC Algiers. The operator confirmed knowledge of the boat and that an operation was ongoing. At 07.16 CET MRCC Algiers could not yet confirm the rescue of the boat. At 07.57 CET we e-mailed authorities, again summarising the information we had received from the relative. At 08.11 CET the family member called us again, relating that another relative of another person on the boat had managed to get in touch with the pepole on the boat directly about an hour ago. According to the relative calling us, the boat was still at sea without a working engine. We were unable to establish direct contact to the boat. At 08.45 CET the relative called again, informing us that the Algerican coast guard had rescued the boat.

At 11.25 CET we called MRCC Algier, who confirmed the rescue of 12 people off the coast of Annaba. The operator refused to provide any further information. At 13.00 CET the relative who had originally informed us about the boat confirmed they had been in direct contact with their family member, who had been returned to Algeria.

Twitter Chronology:

March 7th

12.20 CET https://twitter.com/alarm_phone/status/1368521801899315206