Five Rescued After Orcas Sink Sailboat Off Lisbon

Overview

• Portuguese maritime authorities said a sailboat went down near Costa da Caparica on Saturday after repeated hits from orcas, and all five people aboard were rescued without injuries.
• Video published by G1 shows the animals striking the vessel before it lost stability and took on water after damage to the rudder and hull.
• Rescue alerts reached the Lisbon maritime coordination center around 12:30, response units were deployed, and nearby vessels assisted in taking the crew to safety.
• O Globo reports a second interaction the same day in the Bay of Cascais involving a tourist boat that lost steering but returned to shore with four people unhurt, bringing the day’s totals to nine people assisted.
• Accounts differ on how common such encounters have been this year, with G1 citing more than 70 interactions and Extra reporting three attacks, as scientists note the behavior may reflect curiosity or social activity rather than aggression.