Merchant ship sinks off Laayoune coast, all crew rescued safely

A merchant ship flying the Panamanian flag sank off the coast of Laayoune on Saturday evening, as announced by the Ministry of Transport and Logistics.

In an official statement, the ministry revealed that the vessel, named Dura Bulk, experienced water infiltration while on its way to the port of Laayoune, carrying a load of bulk clinker.

Upon receiving the alert, authorities swiftly initiated search and rescue operations. All crew members, who are foreign nationals, were successfully rescued and evacuated safely, according to the same source.

The ministry emphasized that it is closely monitoring the situation in collaboration with the relevant authorities. An investigation has been launched to uncover the exact circumstances and causes of the shipwreck.