July 23rd 2024.
This morning, British and Spanish maritime officials reported that a fishing boat carrying 27 people sank approximately 320km off the coast of the Falkland Islands. Tragically, at least six people have been confirmed dead and seven are still missing. The vessel, known as the Argos Georgia, was a 54-meter long boat that was sailing in the South Atlantic Ocean near Argentina when it went down. Thankfully, 14 individuals were able to make it onto a life raft and were rescued by two other fishing boats that were close by.
According to Spanish authorities, 10 of the crew members were identified as Spaniards from the Pontevedra province in southeastern Galicia. Out of respect for the families, they have not released any information on the condition of the crew members. However, on the social media platform X, the provincial government announced that one of the deceased was the ship's cook from the town of Baiona. They also noted that there were crew members of other nationalities on board.
The Falkland Islands, also known as the Islas Malvinas by Argentina, are a British-controlled archipelago that is claimed by Argentina. On Monday, the Falkland Islands received an emergency signal from the Argos Georgia, indicating that the boat was taking on water. The vessel was traveling at a speed of 35 knots per hour and was located east of Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands, according to the monitoring site MarineTraffic.com.
In response, a helicopter, aircraft, and multiple vessels were deployed to assist in the rescue effort. The Falkland Islands government reported that the helicopter initially spotted survivors in the water on Monday, but had to halt the rescue operation due to harsh weather conditions. However, when the storm calmed down on Tuesday, the efforts resumed.
The Argos Georgia is managed by Argos Froyanes Ltd, a joint British-Norwegian company. The boat was sailing under the flag of St Helena, another of Britain's overseas territories in the South Atlantic. In a statement, the company expressed their trust in the crew members' professionalism and training to handle such a situation. The vessel was relatively new, having been built in 2018 according to Vesselfinder, a website that tracks marine traffic.
It's worth noting that Britain and Argentina have a history of conflict over the Falkland Islands. In 1982, a war broke out between the two countries when Argentine troops attempted to invade the islands, resulting in the loss of many lives. As the search and rescue efforts continue for the missing crew members, our thoughts go out to all those affected by this tragic event.
Lastly, as we follow this developing story, let's also remember to stay tuned for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, which will be broadcasted live and free on Channel 9 and 9Now. For an ad-free and 4K viewing experience, you can also check out Stan Sport. Let's support and celebrate our athletes as they compete on the world stage.
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