A car carrying four people plunged into the sea at the Port of Algeciras in the early hours of Wednesday. Two women, aged 71 and 43, were killed in the incident. Two men managed to escape from the vehicle and were taken to hospital. One of them is in critical condition.
Spain Expat Press Editorial Team
by Marlon Gallego Bosbach
A tragic accident occurred overnight at the Port of Algeciras in the province of Cádiz: at around 12:30am, a car carrying four people plunged into the sea. The occupants were travelling by car to board a ferry bound for Tangier.
There was nothing that could be done to save the two women. They were recovered dead from the submerged vehicle by divers from the Guardia Civil.
Two women trapped inside the vehicle
According to the Andalusian emergency service 112, there were four people in the vehicle. Two men managed to escape from the car on their own after it plunged into the water.
The two women, however, remained trapped inside the vehicle. Specialist divers from the Guardia Civil’s GEAS unit located the car underwater and recovered the two occupants. Both had already died by that time.
The victims were a 71-year-old woman and a 43-year-old woman.
Two men survive – one in critical condition
The two male occupants managed to escape the vehicle in time. They received medical attention from emergency responders before being taken to hospital. According to the 112 emergency service, one of the men is in critical condition. The second man was also taken to hospital for further treatment.
The four occupants are reportedly believed to have been of Moroccan origin. The two women who died are said to have been mother and daughter and to have lived in Segovia. However, these details have not yet been officially confirmed by the emergency services.
Car plunges into the sea in the ferry boarding area
The accident occurred in the Muelle de Galera area, at berth number 1, where vehicles are processed for ferry services to North Africa. According to the information available so far, the four people had passed the initial checks and were then waiting in the area before boarding the ferry.
For reasons that remain unclear, the vehicle then continued moving towards the quay wall. The car eventually plunged into the water and became completely submerged.
Extensive overnight rescue operation
Following the emergency call, a major rescue operation was launched. Those involved included the 061 emergency medical service, firefighters, Salvamento Marítimo and the Guardia Civil. The Guardia Civil deployed its GEAS unit, which specialises in underwater operations.
The 061 emergency medical service attended the scene with two ambulances, while the fire service deployed four units. The two men initially managed to escape from the vehicle on their own. Emergency responders then focused their efforts on locating the two women trapped inside.
Cause of accident not yet fully established
The exact circumstances that led the car to enter the harbour basin have not yet been fully established. Initial investigations point to the possibility of a driving error or momentary inattention. Poor visibility at night may also have played a role. However, there is still no official confirmation of the definitive cause of the accident.
Police are continuing to investigate the exact circumstances of the accident. Among other things, investigators are seeking to determine why the vehicle continued moving after stopping in the waiting area and whether visibility or orientation at the scene played a role.
On the way to Tangier
The four occupants were apparently travelling to Tangier or Tanger Med. The Port of Algeciras is an important link between southern Spain and North Africa and is used by large numbers of travellers, particularly during the summer months.
The accident occurred in the vehicle processing area for ferry services. At the time of the incident, the ferry in question was reportedly not yet at the berth.
Tragic end to a journey
The accident left two people dead and two others injured. While the two men were able to escape from the vehicle, the two women remained trapped inside and could only be recovered by emergency responders after they had died.
Investigators are now working to establish how the tragic accident occurred at the Port of Algeciras. A definitive explanation for why the vehicle plunged into the sea has yet to be determined.
