A freighter bound for Spain is assisted near Sardinia after a breakdown in a storm

A cargo ship sailing from Egypt to Spain was assisted by the Italian Coast Guard off the south of the island of Sardinia (east) after suffering an engine failure amid the strong storm that is hitting the western Mediterranean, official sources reported this Thursday. The ship, flying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis and dedicated to livestock transport although it was traveling without cargo, was heading to the Spanish port of Cartagena when it ran out of propulsion near the small island of San Pietro, located southwest of Sardinia. The rough sea conditions and strong winds pushed the ship towards a rocky area of the coast, prompting Italian authorities to activate an emergency operation. The intervention included support vessels and helicopters, managing to keep all 33 crew members safe at all times.

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During the night, a high-powered tugboat managed to move the ship away from the coast and ensure its stability, avoiding possible major damage. The authorities confirmed that there were no injuries or environmental impacts as a result of the incident. This Monday, the Italian government declared a state of national emergency in the regions of Calabria, Sicily (south) and Sardinia (east), severely affected by successive storms and approved an initial allocation of 100 million euros for reconstruction and urgent assistance efforts.