Two yachts sank after a series of attacks on killer whales...As a joke?
Sep 16, 2025
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According to foreign media such as the Daily Mail, a shocking incident occurred at around 12:30 p.m. on the 12th (local time) off the coast of Ponchi da Telya, Portugal, when a group of killer whales repeatedly hit and sank a tourist yacht. There were five tourists on the yacht at the time of the accident, who escaped from the ship and were rescued by another nearby ship.
A tourist boat in the northern waters of Cascais, not far from here, was also attacked by the same group of orcas, and four people escaped. They were also helped by another ship.
In both cases, no casualties were reported, and no medical treatment was required.
The captain of the dolphin observation tour boat at the scene said "The yacht made strange movements and approached, and there were four orcas surrounding the boat," he said.
He added that he tried to move to safety, but the yacht sank in an instant.
Witnesses said there were four orcas, one of whom hit the yacht's rudder two or three times and cracked the hull and water came in" he testified. According to local media, killer whales have been attacking ships in the waters of the Iberian Peninsula since 2019, with about 500 attacks reported between 2020 and 2023 alone. Of these, 20% had hull damage, and some were completely sunk.
In recent years, killer whale attacks have also occurred frequently off the coast of Galicia, Spain, and the Coast Guard has recommended refraining from operating ships.
In particular, attacks have also occurred in shallow-water fishing and leisure areas, raising concerns.
Experts say it is unusual for a group of Iberian killer whales to show aggression toward boats away from the path they were taking along a group of bluefin tuna, adding that they may be deliberately hitting the boat out of boredom or fun, not survival" he estimated. The number of killer whales in the region is less than 50, which is currently classified as an endangered species.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
