Watch The Med Alarm Phone Investigations – 04th of February 2023

Case name: 2023_02_04-WM005

Situation: 36 people in distress in the Alboran Sea, rescued by Salavamento Maritimo to an Alboran Island

Status of WTM Investigation: Concluded

Place of Incident: Alboran Sea

Summary of the Case: In the afternoon of the 4th of February, the Alarm Phone shift team was alerted by a relative to a group of 36 travelers, including two women, on a gray rubber boat in distress in Alboran Sea. The travelers had left from Nador, Morocco at 4:00 CET that same day. We were not able to establish a direct contact to the travelers. We relayed all the information we had to the Spanish Search and Rescue organization Salvamento Maritimo via E-Mail. We tried to reach the travelers several time but had to learn that some of the phone numbers have been wrong since we reached people who were neither in distress nor traveling on a boat. Around midnight we reached Salvamento Maritimo again who told us, that there were people rescued on a Alboran Island. By that time the officer on duty could not tell us more information. We contacted the relative, if they had any new information - this was not case. The next morning (5th of February) we called Salvamento Maritimo again and they confirmed the rescue of the 36 people to an Alboran Island.