A pod of killer whales attacked a tourist yacht in the Strait of Gibraltar, punching a hole in the bottom and tearing off the rudder. A team of tourists survived a 45-minute attack off the coast of Spain. This is reported by the Mirror.
The incident happened in the afternoon of October 31, but it became known only now. The company’s yacht Morskie Mile was attacked. There were Polish tourists on board Grazie Mamma II. It was specified that the yacht began to sink after the attack by a pack of killer whales. Despite the efforts of the captain, crew, and rescuers from South Africa, port tugs and the Moroccan Navy, the yacht could not be saved and sank not far from the entrance to the port of Tangier Med. However, the good news is that all crew members and passengers managed to escape and are safe and sound in Spain.
“The killer whales that sank the boat blew a huge hole in the side of the vessel before tearing off the rudder and floating away with it. Tourists who previously sailed on the ship Grazie Mamma II, owned by Poland, said they were horrified to hear about the attack,” the publication said.
Representatives of the company that organizes tourist cruises on yachts expressed regret over the incident and emphasized the high significance of the sunken vessel for sea navigation. The statement said that long-term friendships were established on board the yacht, and on the way to sailing, the wonderful places of Europe and the Atlantic archipelagos were mastered, as well as new skills of yacht helmsmen were acquired.
However, this yacht was not the only victim of an attack by a school of killer whales in the waters of Spain. Several similar incidents are also known. Scientists are currently investigating the reasons why these predators show aggression towards water transport. Orca encounters ranged from simply approaching the boats to actively interfering with their work.