Collision of passenger ship and sailboat near Splitska vrata: Three dead, one person still missing

(Patria) - In a maritime accident near Splitska vrata that occurred today, three people died, and one person is still missing.

A passenger ship of a private domestic company with 118 passengers collided with a sailboat under the French flag, which carried the victims and sank, reported the Ministry of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Croatia.

At the time of the accident, there were 118 passengers and 7 crew members on the passenger ship, while the sailboat had eight people on board, three of whom died, and one person is still being searched for.

The remaining four people from the sunken French sailboat were pulled from the sea.

The Ministry stated that the report of the accident was received at the Port Authority of Split at 11:34 AM, after which the information was forwarded to the National Center for Coordination of Search and Rescue at Sea (MRCC) in Rijeka, which launched a coordinated search and rescue operation.

All available rescue boats of the Port Authority of Split and its branch offices, police vessels of the Maritime and Airport Police of Split, emergency medical services, a helicopter unit, and other services specialized in handling emergencies at sea and on land were involved in the search and rescue operation.

Field activities are coordinated by MRCC Rijeka.

At the accident site, an investigation will be conducted led by the deputy county state attorney, with the participation of a traffic expert and the police.

The cause of the accident will be known after the completion of the investigation and inquiry.

Emergency medical service officers provided assistance to the four rescued individuals at the accident site, and there was no need for their transport to the hospital.

Four injured persons were brought to the Emergency Hospital Admission Unit (OHBP) of the Clinical Hospital Center Split.

As reported by the hospital, they are Czech citizens of middle age, writes HRT.