A fast ferry ran aground on a rocky island on the way from Ibiza to Formentera. There were almost only minor injuries in the accident.
Ibiza – At least twelve people were injured in the accident on a ferry off Ibiza.
The catamaran high-speed ferry “San Gwann” of the German shipping company FRS was on its way from Ibiza to Formentera late on Saturday evening when it struck a small rocky island between the two Mediterranean islands, as announced by the sea rescue service, the shipping company and the government of the Spanish region of Balearic Islands .
It said there were 35 passengers and twelve crew members on board. A ten-year-old boy was injured a little more seriously and was therefore flown by helicopter to Mallorca to the Son Espases University Hospital in the island’s capital, Palma, reported the regional newspaper “Diario de Ibiza”, citing the authorities. A grown man was also injured a little more seriously. In addition, there were at least ten slightly injured. It was not known for the time being whether there were Germans among those affected.
According to the information, the accident happened around 10 p.m. shortly after leaving the port of Ibiza. The shipping company said that the security protocol was immediately activated and the responsible authorities were alerted. The crew took care of the passengers until the evacuation. According to the official information, the occupants of the ship were brought to Ibiza in rubber dinghies. At least six were taken to hospital there.
How the well-known and actually clearly visible islet Es Malvins could be overlooked initially remained a mystery. “The cause of the accident is still unknown,” said the head of the sea rescue service of the Balearic Islands, Miguel Félix Chicón, in a radio interview on Sunday. In the accident, the ferry must have crashed onto the rock at a speed of around 30 knots (a good 55 kilometers per hour).
The 51 meter long “San Gwann” was badly damaged in the accident, as the “Diario de Ibiza” reported, citing the authorities. Chicón even did not rule out a downfall. The ferry only started operating between Ibiza and Formentera at the end of June. The crossing takes around half an hour. dpa
