Annaba / Harraga: One Death and a second seriously injured

Annaba- A rescue operation took place last Thursday off Annaba. The grouping of territorial units of the Coast Guard (GTGC) has conducted a chase operation of 3 artisanal craft.

• Hamza Ikram, 32, from the district of Oued El Kobba in the department of Annaba died in this incident where 18 others have been wounded, one had his leg amputated more than 11 harraga were 2 missing. A third boat would escape.
  
  According to Zaïdi Abdelaziz, head of the main station of  Maritime Coastguard in Annaba, the Harraga were found around 11 pm by the guards in Ras Al Hamra, the three crafts were then pursued by units No. 360 and No. 355 of the coast guards (GTGC). From a beach in Annaba, the first boat, aboard which were 24 Harraga was detected at around 1 am at 4 nautical miles north of Ras Al Hamra, according to Mr. Zaid. Refusing to obey the summons of the Coast Guard, the 24 young people have decided to continue their "trip".
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  They were determined to reach the European shores, whatever the risks and dangers. A race was then triggered. A dangerous maritime race causing a collision between the small boat of the young Harraga and that of the unit of the Coast Guard causing 1 dead, ten injured, one seriously reached. The boat did not resist the shock.
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  Captured by the coast guards ten nautical miles north of Ras Al Hamra, young Harraga on the other two boats went, like the first, from the same beach. They had also ignored the summons of the Coast Guard and continued their trip.
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   At the emergency department of Ibn Rushd hospital, one of 18 wounded Harraga was amputated one leg. During the collision, Ikram died. According to Zaïdi Abdelaziz: "After the refusal to submit to orders to stop, a race was started between the elements of GTGC and the two boats of Harraga. With no possibility of escape, they have caused the collision to escape. The shock was received by their boat. A rescue operation ensued."
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  A third boat fled with on board an undefined number of occupants. Mr Zaidi said that the boat is located at large. It is about to be captured. "
  
  Ennahar / Noureddine Boukraa / Hisham Kassemi