Dramatic moment Canary Islands ferry smashes into pier caught on camera (VIDEO)
A ferry carrying 140 passengers crashed into the docks in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria on Friday after a mechanical failure. Multiple injuries were reported. While the ship stayed afloat, a fuel line ruptured resulting in a spill.
A local state of emergency was declared in the immediate aftermath, but has since been downgraded following an assessment of the spill.
Gobierno de Canarias activa Plan por Contaminación Marina (PECMAR) en nivel 1 por vertido de combustible tras accidente barco #GRANCANARIApic.twitter.com/zRwXZWF6es
— 1-1-2 Canarias (@112canarias) April 22, 2017
The Twitter account containing the earliest known upload of the video to public social media was contacted by RT. The channel purports to be an independent source of security and emergency information for the Canary Islands and has been in operation since February 2016.
ASI SE PRODUJO EL ACCIDENTE EN EL MUELLE DE LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA. pic.twitter.com/3yP1l2Uijr
— EmergCAN (@EmergCAN1) April 21, 2017
The 1:49 video uploaded on April 21 shows the exact moment when the ferry, Volcan de Tamasite, struck the protective wall at the pier in Las Palmas in the Canary Islands.
Images from the verified account of the local emergency services corroborate claims that the video was filmed at the pier in question.
An image taken from Google Earth shows the exact point where the ferry hit the pier.
En dispositivo en Puerto #GRANCANARIA intervinieron @GuardiaCivil, Autoridad Portuaria, @salvamentogob, Unidad tierra del #GES y Bomberos pic.twitter.com/b7CPcjwv91
— 1-1-2 Canarias (@112canarias) April 21, 2017
RT reached out to EmergCAN and local authorities for clarification on where the video originated, but has yet to receive a response.
Naviera Armas, the operator of the ferry has stated in an online statement that the cause of the collision was a technical fault and that all passengers involved have been placed in temporary accommodation.
Five people were transferred to local hospitals and medical centers for treatment, but have since been discharged reports RTVC.
Water services to the nearby community of Jinamar were cut off as a precaution, but have since been restored.
Esta incidencia afecta al barrio de Jinámar, que sufre un corte temporal del suministro de agua.
— 1-1-2 Canarias (@112canarias) April 22, 2017
The president of the Canarian government, Fernando Clavijo, has said he expects the fuel spill to be cleaned up before Monday at the latest and that local experts involved in the cleanup are not expecting any long-term environmental damage.
Se sigue trabajando en el vertido y esperamos que antes del lunes se haya evaporado. Los técnicos no creen que haya peligro medioambiental.
— Fernando Clavijo (@EquipoClavijo) April 22, 2017
