Two Portuguese citizens were rescued alive today off the coast of Croatia, while searches continue for the remaining two national citizens who went missing early this morning while in a small inflatable rowing boat, according to Croatian official sources.
The first rescue occurred around 11:40 (10:40 in Lisbon), when a woman was pulled from the sea in Butinj Bay, about 20 kilometers from the site where the four young people, in their thirties, entered the sea. The woman had been spotted from an airplane participating in the search operation.
Shortly afterwards, a man was located about two kilometers from the site of the first rescue, according to information provided by the harbor master of Senj, Nenad Bugarin, cited by the Spanish news agency EFE. The two rescued individuals, who spent more than eight hours in the sea, are receiving medical attention from emergency services.
The Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure of Croatia had indicated that at 04:41 earlier this morning (03:41 in Lisbon), an alert was received regarding four missing people near Senj, approximately 60 kilometers south of Rijeka. A friend informed that four young people set off rowing in a small recreational boat from a local campsite heading toward Senj and subsequently disappeared.
Read more: Portugal prepares for rare dual celestial spectacle featuring solar eclipse and perseid meteors
The four Portuguese went missing off Croatia early this morning after the vessel they were travelling in was caught by a storm, a source from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE) told Lusa.
Although the MNE had initially communicated via social media that one of the missing individuals had been found dead awaiting identification by local authorities, that information was subsequently updated without reference to the fatality on social media by the MNE, which told Lusa it was awaiting further official developments.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister also referred to a death.
“I only learned a few moments ago of this accident. I want to express our regret and grief on behalf of the Government for the fatal victim who has already been identified and wish that the people who are missing can be found quickly and alive,” said the head of the executive.
The area has been hit since Tuesday by strong wind gusts and waves up to three meters high, which is why a search operation was launched immediately after receiving the alert. Rescue teams had already located an object in the water that corresponds to the description of the young people’s boat.
