Rescue operation underway for 5 fishermen

A rescue operation is said to be underway for five fishermen from the British Virgin Islands whose vessel reportedly broke down at sea this morning, February 17.

The 42-foot boat called Amigo is said to be approximately 20 miles north of Tortola.

That location is said to be posing a challenge for the Virgin Islands Search and Rescue (VISAR) team, and so efforts are being made to have a salvage company tow the malfunctioning vessel to shore.

Representative of VISAR, Phil Aspinall, told BVI News Online: “The situation started this morning before 10 o’ clock, and attempts were being made to figure out how to get the vessel out [of the water].”

“The US Coast Guard was trying to come up with a plan to get them towed back in. We are dealing with a salvage company here and a salvage company in St Thomas [US Virgin Islands],” Aspinall further said.

He stated that, at the time he was last updated, none of the fishermen was injured.

“There is no injury or anything like that, but the vessel itself is broken,” added Aspinall.

BVI News Online will provide more information as soon as it becomes available.