The tranquility of Thursday morning in the Natural Park of ses Salines de Formentera has been broken by the fire, for reasons that are still unknown, of a sailboat anchored in the entrance channel to the port of La Savina, opposite the beach of es Cavall d’en Borràs.
According to eyewitnesses, the crew members of the boats dedicated to the transport of tourists have tried to control the flames, but finally it has not been possible and the boat of Salvamento Marítimo ‘Naos’ has towed the sailboat towards open waters so that it finishes consuming and sinks.
Salvamento Marítimo reports that the passengers of the sailboat have been taken to safety by their own means when they discovered the fire. A team of Firefighters of the Consell de Formentera has approached to try to extinguish the fire, a task in which several of the boats carrying tourists between the Pitiusas have collaborated, throwing water from the deck.
Although at first it seemed that the flames, originated according to the images in the stern of the boat, had been controlled, finally the professionals on board the Salvamar ‘Naos’, upon arrival at the scene of the incident, have considered appropriate to tow the sailboat to open waters to prevent the fire from affecting other boats located in the vicinity or the protected area of the Natural Park.
When they reach a point they consider safe, they will leave the boat there to finish consuming and sink.
The place where the sailboat was when the fire broke out is a very busy area at this time of year, with numerous boats at anchor and others using the channel to enter or leave La Savina.
A “rapid action of the emergency teams”
A patrol of the Local Police of Formentera, which is part of the surveillance service on the beaches, and the Fire Department of Formentera have also moved to the scene with two boats.
Upon arrival at the sailboat, the Local Police found that the occupants had already left the boat by means of an auxiliary boat. For their part, Firefighters have tried to extinguish the fire with motor pumps from the two boats.
Finally, once activated the device of Maritime Rescue, the sailboat has been towed out to sea. The Consell de Formentera highlights the “rapid action of emergency teams” and “recalls the importance of following safety measures at sea to prevent such incidents,” it said in a statement.
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