Velebit Channel: Two Portuguese nationals rescued as search continues

Velebit Channel search and rescue Portuguese nationals Tomislav Sorić Adriatic Sea

A major search and rescue operation is underway in Croatia's Velebit Channel following the disappearance of four Portuguese nationals. The group, described as being in their thirties, reportedly set out from a local campsite north of Senj in a small 1.5-meter recreational inflatable boat during severe weather conditions. The area has been experiencing intense Bura winds with gusts up to 60 knots and waves exceeding two to three meters.

As of the latest updates, two of the four individuals have been rescued alive. A woman was located in the Butinj bay on Krk island, and a man was found near Cape Glavina. Search teams, including the Croatian Coast Guard using a Pilatus PC-9 aircraft and various maritime police vessels, continue to search for the remaining two individuals. An abandoned inflatable boat matching the group's description was previously spotted near the coast of Krk.

Separately, authorities in Zadar confirmed the death of Dr. Tomislav Sorić, the 56-year-old head of the Urology Department at the General Hospital Zadar. Dr. Sorić died following an accidental drowning near the island of Iž. Police investigations determined that he sustained fatal injuries from a vessel's propeller after jumping into the sea.

Entities

Croatian Coast Guard · General Hospital Zadar · Iza · Iž · MRCC Rijeka · Mali Iž · Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Rijeka · Novalja · Portugal · Portuguese Republic · Senj · Tomislav Sorić

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 5 SOURCES] One Portuguese woman was found alive in a bay at approximately 11:40 AM. www.dalmacijanews.hr · prigorski.hr · centrotv.sapo.pt · www.dalmacijadanas.hr · www.dan.co.me
[● 8 SOURCES] A search and rescue operation was launched in the Velebit Channel for four missing Portuguese nationals. likaclub.net.hr · www.zagorje.com · www.croatiaweek.com · www.dalmacijanews.hr · eco.sapo.pt · +3 more
[● 4 SOURCES] The death of Dr. Tomislav Sorić near the island of Iž was ruled an accidental drowning. teleskop.hr · www.oslobodjenje.ba · hrvatska-danas.com · www.jutarnji.hr
[● 8 SOURCES] An abandoned floating object matching the description of the missing boat was found near the coast of Krk. likaclub.net.hr · www.zagorje.com · www.croatiaweek.com · www.dalmacijanews.hr · www.24sata.hr · +3 more
[● 8 SOURCES] The missing group was traveling in a recreational inflatable boat approximately 1.5 meters in length. likaclub.net.hr · www.zagorje.com · www.croatiaweek.com · www.dalmacijanews.hr · eco.sapo.pt · +3 more
[● 8 SOURCES] Weather conditions included Bura winds with gusts of approximately 60 knots and waves exceeding 2 meters. likaclub.net.hr · www.zagorje.com · www.croatiaweek.com · www.dalmacijanews.hr · www.24sata.hr · +3 more
[● 3 SOURCES] Dr. Tomislav Sorić died following injuries sustained from a vessel propeller after jumping into the sea. teleskop.hr · www.oslobodjenje.ba · hrvatska-danas.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Dr. Tomislav Sorić was the head of the Urology Department at the General Hospital Zadar. teleskop.hr · www.oslobodjenje.ba · hrvatska-danas.com
[● 3 SOURCES] A second Portuguese man was found alive near Cape Glavina. prigorski.hr · www.dalmacijadanas.hr · www.dan.co.me