Tag: Accident
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Latest Gran Canaria News, Views & Sunshine
The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 9-11 June 2023
A delightful second weekend of June ahead with all kinds of events to get involved with on Gran Canaria. The Harvest Fair arrives on the south, in El Tablero, patron saints’ fiestas in honour of San Antonio of Padua and San Pedro are happening around the island, Corpus Christi salt carpets and processions are held this Sunday, markets and music festivals as well as sporting events. Hopefully the weather will sustain all these wonderful festivities and happenings in the glorious outdoors, on which so much depends on this little island.
Menas Case: Foundation Siglo XXI directors allegedly filed false invoices, unrealistic expenses and repeatedly drew funds from ATMs, meant for the care of migrant children, even charging botox facial treatments and posh restaurant bills to foundation debit cards
A comprehensive analysis conducted by Group I of the Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit (UDEF) of the National Police yielded scandalous results, writes Spanish language daily Canarias7, regarding the alleged irregular use of the public funds intended for the care of unaccompanied minors, by the suspected to have been perpetrated by centres managed by the Foundation Social Response Siglo XXI on Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. In this case, driven by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, investigators discovered that the director of the Guiniguada centre charged the NGO responsible for €1,500 worth of beauty treatments and €1,113 for bills at top restaurants including Vinófilos, El Vasco de Vegueta, and Triciclo.
Centre-Right Pact Between Regionalists (CC) And Resident Conservatives (PPAV) Returns Marco Aurelio Perez As Southern Mayor
The conservative Partido Popular-Agrupación de Vecinos (PP-AV) and the right of centre regionalist Coalición Canaria (CC) have this Thursday signed a local government pact that will shape the future of the southern Gran Canaria tourism municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana. The alliance, dubbed a “Pact for Stability and Socioeconomic Progress of San Bartolomé Tirajana”, represents 60% of the votes cast in the municipality’s recent local elections, emphasised the mayor-elect, Marco Aurelio Pérez (PP-AV), who returns for the third time to lead the local council responsible for some of the most important tourism areas on the island, including Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés and San Agustín.
Local Government Coalition Agreement Maspalomas and the South of Gran Canaria
A governing coalition pact has been finalised in San Bartolomé de Tirajana. The Popular Party–Agrupación de Vecinos (PP-AV) conservative residents party is to join forces with regionalist centre-right Coalición Canaria (CC) to govern the main tourist municipality on Gran Canaria for the next four years. Marco Aurelio Pérez will serve as mayor for the entire four-year term, and the Popular Party will take charge of Employment, Sports, Roads and Infrastructure, and Human Resources, among other areas. The regionalists, led by Alejandro Marichal, will oversee Urban Planning, Economy and Finance, and Tourism as their main departments.
Storm Óscar Latest: Government of the Canary Islands Declares Rain Alert for Western Islands and Gran Canaria
A storm system, dubbed Óscar, has formed over the last few days over the mid-north Atlantic, unusual for this time of year, and has led to concern from meteorologists and journalists as it passes south of the Azores, its tail should reach The Canary Islands, before the system heads northeast towards mainland Spain. Advisory warnings have been issued in expectation of heavy rainfall, primarily in the Western Isles of the Canary Islands Archipelago, though some rainfall is also expected to reach Gran Canaria over the next couple of days. It seems unlikely that any major consequences will stem from the bad weather, however these things can be unpredictable and so every precaution is taken to ensure people are informed and kept safe.
#WeCrossMountains
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Two injured in serious car accident on Saturday night in the Agüimes hills
A vehicle left the road last Saturday night, in the rural area known as La Cortada, in Los Corralillos, in the Gran Canaria municipality of Agüimes.
Two people were injured and the vehicle also suffered extensive damage. The driver apparently lost control of the vehicle, which left the road (the GC-551) at speed at around 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, passing over the safety fences and the various large rocks along the way, coming to a stand still, with his rear to the hillside and scattering engine parts as it came to a halt.
Illegal races are known to take place along this road with some frequency, sometimes ending in accidents. Observers hypothesise this to be likely the reason for the drivers loss of control.
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Tragic death of well known local Norwegian resident, in Arguineguín, suspected to be by misadventure, autopsy ordered as part of investigation
The tragic death of a Norwegian national, well known in the local foreign-resident community on the south of the island, occurred Thursday afternoon following a fall from the roof of his apartment block in Arguineguín, having allegedly been locked out during the night with his keys inside. Paramedics at the scene could do nothing to revive him due to the severity of the injuries. Death by misadventure is most likely say witnesses and investigators.
The main 112 Emergency and Security Coordinating Centre (CECOES) received an alert, shortly after 12 noon on Thursday, reporting that a man had fallen several meters from the top of a building located on Calle Juan Juana, next to the main Plaza Negra Market Square, in the municipality of Mogán.
The SUC ambulance crew who attended the scene, could only certify his tragic death, at approximately 12:30 according to sources close to the events, due to the severity of his injuries presented.
According to witnesses, the victim had allegedly climbed up onto the roof, located on the third floor of the building, in an attempt to enter his apartment on the second floor, having mistakenly locked himself out during the early hours of the morning. Sources say the man had tied a television antenna cable around his waste, which broke after he lost his balance, falling about eight meters to the pavement below.
A large deployment at the scene included a basic life support ambulance and another medicalised ambulance from the Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC), Mogán Policia Local and Proteccion Civil, and the Guardia Civil were all in attendance. The healthcare professionals at the scene could do little more than to certify his death, after assessing his condition.
Guardia Civil Judicial Police, from the Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria main post, instructed the corresponding investigative procedures to determine the causes of death, although everything points to accidental death by misadventure, according to sources close to the investigation.
Friends were concerned
Close friends of the deceased, who contacted The Canary News directly, expressed concern having spent the evening beforehand with the man, who had appeared to be in an agitated state when leaving to go home ahead of 10pm curfew. According to one witness, who has also made a statement to the Guardia Civil, the victim had suffered a beating two weeks earlier, from another individual with whom he had previously been friends. This acquaintance had subsequently threatened him, said the victim, causing him to recently change the locks on his apartment for fear of further physical altercations.
The witness says he spent nearly two hours on the phone to the victim, during the early hours of Thursday morning, unable to go to him directly, due to curfew, but trying to console him, and advised him to call the police if he were at all concerned or felt threatened. Though these events could well have been a factor in the victim getting locked out of his apartment, investigators say they have no current reasons to suspect that yesterdays events, and tragic death, were anything more than the result of a heartbreaking and deadly error of judgement on the part of the victim himself. An awful accident.
Guardia Civil agents guarded the man’s body until it could be certified by the coroner before being removed and later transferred to the Institute of Legal Medicine in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where an autopsy will now be performed.
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The Canary News
Balcony fall on Gran Canaria, 58-year old man in Patalavaca taken to hospital with head injuries
A 58-year-old man was injured on Monday afternoon following a balcony fall from a Gran Canaria tourist accommodation on El Escorial street, Patalavaca, near the the sunny southwest coast of the currently tranquil holiday island. According to the main 1-1-2 CECOES emergency co-ordination centre, when first responders arrived, the victim presented severe head trauma, for which he was transferred via SUC advanced life support ambulance to the Gran Canaria Insular University Hospital, in Las Palmas.
#WeCrossMountains
Sometime after 6:20 p.m., the Canary Islands 1-1-2 Emergency and Security Coordination Centre (CECOES) received an alert reporting that an individual had suffered a balcony fall, from several meters high, and request healthcare.
The SUC staff assessed and assisted the victim, who had accidentally fallen from the balcony. After being stabilised, he was transferred in serious condition by ambulance to the hospital.
Firefighters and Civil Protection personnel also attended alongside the medical personnel to the transfer man to the ambulance. Local Police secured the area and prepared their reports from the scene.
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Two intoxicated tourists in multiple collisions along quiet residential street in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria
On Saturday night, March 13, two young French tourists, intoxicated with alcohol, were treated by emergency services having caused multiple collisions along the otherwise quiet Calle de Gran Canaria street, on Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria’s east side.
The spectacular accident caused by drunk driving occurred when the tourists’ vehicle collided with several parked cars. One of the occupants of the car in question banged his head against the windscreen, and had to be treated by ambulance crews after apparently losing a lot of blood, however the boy’s injuries turned out to be less serious than at first feared. Firefighters also had to intervene at the scene.
At least three other parked vehicles and several waste containers located along that same road were damaged
One of the men, a 29 year old, was slightly injured to the face and was assisted by health workers from the SUC Canary Islands Emergency Service, who transferred him by ambulance to the Arguineguín health centre, according to the main 112 Canary Islands Emergency and Security Coordination Centre (CECOES). The CECOES received reports of what happened just after 11 p.m. When the emergency services arrived, on boy had lots of blood from his face, so at first it was thought that his injuries were greater than they turned out to be.
Policia Local attended the scene and collected evidence.
Local campaign groups have not pointed the finger at all French people, nor have they asked for any greater awareness than normal of French tourists around wine, or other intoxicants, nor at any point have they asked for photographs and locations of French drivers, who could be planning any number of multiple collisions, to be privately sent to otherwise law abiding grumble groups, so as to improve security in the holiday hotspot of Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria, nor should such images be sent to local authorities for further investigation. In fact Puerto Rico remains as one of the safest holiday destinations on earth. The French are still very welcome. –
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Bentago Express ferry repairs on schedule for resumption of service before the summer say Fred. Olsen
The repair work to the stricken Bentago Express ferry that ran aground at the beginning of the year at Gran Canaria’s north west port of Agaete, is continuing at the Astilleros Canarios (Astican) facilities in the Puerto La Luz, Port of Las Palmas. Fred Olsen confirmed this Thursday that the ferry repairs are progressing as planned and that the ship will be able to sail through the Archipelago once again before the summer. The company’s own freight forwarding operation, Shipping Solutions, has been highlighted by Fred Olsen as playing a crucial role in ensuring that materials arrive on time, thanking them for their involvement on social networks.
#WeCrossMountains
Fred Olsen Express managers made a visit this week to the Port of Las Palmas to monitor the progress of the repairs. Among them was one Fredrik Olsen, president of the Norwegian group that has been connecting the islands since 1974 and has been linked to the archipelago since 1904. Andrés Marín, CEO of Fred Olsen Express, joined the tour of the ferry repairs to the hull to see first-hand the work being carried out. Astican, as a gesture of deference, raised the Norwegian flag to commemorate the roots of the shipping company.
The return of the Bentago won’t be Fred’s only news. Olsen Express in the coming months. The new Bañaderos Express trimaran is also scheduled to start operations in the summer . The Austal shipyard continues to advance in its construction and its launching in Philippine waters is scheduled for the next dates. Fred’s CEO. Olsen Express assured weeks ago that the shipbuilder is meeting the established deadlines, so it trusts that the trimaran, twin of the Bajamar Express , can start traveling on the route between the ports of Agaete (Gran Canaria) and Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the coming months.
? La reparación del #BentagoExpress avanza a buen ritmo y antes de verano estará navegando por #Canarias. ?? Esta semana…
Posted by Fred.Olsen Express on Thursday, March 11, 2021
?The repair of the #BentagoExpress is progressing well and before summer you will be cruising #Canarias .?? This week our managers visited ASTICAN and from the shipyard, as a gesture of deference, they raised the Norwegian flag to commemorate our roots. #Gracias!
Our special thanks to the specialised repair teams that we have on the islands, as well as the continuity in the supply chain, guaranteed by the freight forwarding service Fred. Olsen Shipping Solutions provides. #Less is left
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Stranded Fred Olsen ferry, the Bentago Express, spends fifth day aground at Agaete harbour
The work in the port of Agaete, on the north west of Gran Canaria, to free the Fred Olsen ferry, the Bentago Express, which ran aground last Thursday night, and transfer it to the Port of Las Palmas has continued now through its fifth day. The fast catamaran had been attempting to dock on Thursday night when a mixture of strong winds, from Storm Filomena, and a reported engine failure left the passenger ferry, carrying vehicles and passengers on board, with one of its hulls ruptured and despite numerous efforts to shift the ship into port, stranded on a rocky outcrop below the water line.
At this time, those closest to the recovery operation say that the highest priority is refloating of the vessel so as to be able to safely tow her to the dock in the Port of Agaete, for initial emergency repairs and sealing of the damaged hull, so that she can be transferred to the Port of Las Palmas for full repair and overhaul, at the Astican dry dock.
External floats were placed on Monday to allow for repairs to damaged hull, while air was injected into the port tanks and watertight compartments were sealed. The whole operation right now is solely to lift the listing vessel off the rocks so that she can float sufficiently to reach the dockside some 300m away.
Fred Olsen have repeatedly confirmed that the ship is not in danger of sinking, as she is resting on a flat and stable 20-meter platform. The company, points out in a statement, that they have all the necessary resources at their disposal to achieve a successful rescue of the vessel, with more than 70 professionals working at the scene in the rescue maneuvers, along with all of her crew, including the captain and officers of the ship, and the involvement of all competent authorities, as well as highly prestigious national and international organisations in such matters including ITOPF, Ardentia, Subservices, Adventia, Boluda Corporación Marítima, among others.
Likewise, the company has confirmed that they are using the most advanced equipment and techniques that exist in the market, bringing materials and machinery from other countries and continents. Insisting that at all times, they work with the close advice of the ship’s construction yard, Incat.
No risk to the ecosystem
One of the organisations involved in the emergency, ITOPF, have issued a report stating that though there is a fuel leak, it does not pose any danger to the marine ecosystem, as the small amount of diesel released in the accident is a distillate that is considered “non-persistent” due to its low density and viscosity, it was possible to observe a thin superficial slick fragmenting rapidly on Friday and Saturday that was already, say the company, negligible by Sunday.
The ITOPF report further indicates that much of the fuel has evaporated rapidly into the atmosphere during the first 48 hours, with some of it likely to have been dispersed under the influence of wave action and any remaining residues will be absorbed by marine microorganisms that are able to use the hydrocarbon as a source of energy through biological processes, commonly known as biodegradation. The environment, therefore, as certified by ITOPF, will not suffer significant damage as a result of this accident.
Passengers informed
Those passengers who were affected by the accident are being informed daily by telephone regarding the refloating and rescue operation being carried out, as well as about the situation of their vehicles and belongings, which they will be able to recover as soon as the ship is at the dock.
The Canary Islands Government General Directorate of Security and Emergencies, has set in motion the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands Civil Protection Territorial Emergency Plan (PLATECA), following Protección Civil maritime accident criteria, declaring an active Alert from 13:00 on Tuesday, January 12, in a preventive activation to “guarantee the correct and necessary surveillance and monitoring” of the ship, Bentago Express, stranded in Puerto de las Nieves, Agaete.
This declaration affects the municipalities of Agaete, Artenara and La Aldea de San Nicolás, all on the north west and west coastline of Gran Canaria.
The regional government are maintaining coordination with the rest of the administrations and the shipping company during the buoyancy and towing maneuvers to take the ship into the port, which are still being maintained.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning Fred Olsen have announced:
“[UPDATE #BENTAGOEXPRESS]: After working hard to regain the ship’s buoyancy, taking advantage of tonight’s high tide and after releasing the ship, we resumed work to move it to port.”
? [ACTUALIZCIÓN #BENTAGOEXPRESS]: Tras trabajar intensamente en recuperar la flotabilidad del barco, aprovechando la pleamar de esta noche y tras liberar el buque, reanudamos las labores para desplazarlo al puerto.
— Fred. Olsen Express (@FOexpress) January 13, 2021
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The Canary News
All crew and passengers safe after night aboard ferry that ran aground in the Gran Canaria port of Agaete
All crew and passengers have been declared safe and well, after spending the night aboard a Fred Olsen ferry which ran aground, at around 9pm on Thursday, after the vessel had struggled with high winds and rough seas in Gran Canaria’s Northwest port of Agaete. For several hours this Friday morning, two tugboats tried to move the stranded passenger ship into the port of Agaete, they were later joined by two more tugboats. All attempts made to release the vessel have been so far unsuccessful.
Emergency services from across the island had raced to the scene last night to assist in ensuring the safety the 59 passengers and 16 crew members on board, and following several unsuccessful attempts to free the craft, it was finally decided to evacuate the crew and passengers, who had spent all night on board the vessel, using a Salvamento Maritimo (maritime rescue) vessel, the Salvamar Nunki, to relay them to shore in collaboration with firefighters and emergency personnel from various services assisting the ship’s crew.
By 2:00 p.m. on Friday all the people on board had been brought to safety and accounted for leading to the majority of emergency personnel present being deactivated.
El pasaje y y la tripulacion del Fred Olsen ya han sido evacuados#FMA #Filomena pic.twitter.com/qenTI0cLLV
— Cabildo Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCab) January 8, 2021
A broad range of emergency services were present at the scene including Police, Civil Guard, Red Cross, CECOES, SUC, Civil Protection, Maritime Captaincy, Maritime Rescue, and Fred Olsen crew who have been applauded for showing great professionalism, local fishermen, political leaders, security personnel and port workers all paying homage to the calm shown by passengers who were said to have acted in an exemplary manner despite having been exposed to a tense situation for more than 14 hours.
The Bentago Express, ran aground on Thursday night in Agaete while trying to dock at the Puerto de Las Nieves. No injuries have been reported. The fast catamaran, which covers the route between Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Gran Canaria, suffered damage to one of the engines.
The incident occurred a few minutes before ten o’clock at night. While Storm Filomena continued to produce strong winds and rough seas in the area. According to witnesses, the ship had tried to enter the dock and could not, and then on its second attempt suffered an engine failure.
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The Canary News
Man in Mogán charged for driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol
Traffic Agents of the Guardia Civil investigated a man on December 6 suspected of being the alleged perpetrator of a crime against road safety, for driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.
Their investigations began following a report of a car having left the road, which then later collided with another parked vehicle, around kilometre 63 of the main GC-200 road through the municipality of Mogán, on the south west of Gran Canaria. Agents of the Evidence Team came to the scene and identified the driver of the damaged vehicle, who was then subjected to breathalyser tests, yielding a first result of 0.84 milligrams per litre exhaled (mg/l), and then a second result of 0.79 mg/l, which led to his being investigated as the alleged perpetrator of a crime against road safety, for driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcoholic beverages.
The Penal Code defines crimes against road safety, and establishes prison sentences of three to six months or a fine of six to twelve months (based on income) or community service of 30 to 90 days, along with a ban of one to four years, for driving motor vehicles under the influence of alcohol levels higher than 0.60 mg/l of exhaled air or 1.2 gr/l in blood test results.
The person under investigation has been placed at the disposal of the corresponding Investigating Court in San Bartolomé de Tirajana.
With fewer people than usual on the roads this year, due to the collapse of winter tourism, and stringent restrictions in place to try to curb any risk of infections, there will likely be more police checks per member of the population and so those taking risks are even less likely to be able to evade detection.
This is a very special holiday season, this year, where everyone is being urged to spend less time out travelling and drinking, especially far from home, and more time with family and local community supporting each other through the end of what we can all agree has been an extraordinary, and difficult, year.
Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria car crash driver six times over the limit
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