A fire erupted this midday on the fishing vessel 'Gure Gaskuña' in the port of Orio while it was undergoing maintenance. According to sources familiar with the incident, a welding spark during the repair work allegedly ignited the vessel's insulating material, causing the flames to spread rapidly. Crew members attempted to extinguish the fire with onboard extinguishers but were unsuccessful.
Firefighters are currently working to control and extinguish the flames, which have generated a large column of smoke. The Basque Government's Department of Health has advised residents of Orio and Aia to close their windows due to the smoke.
“"If we were already drowning because of diesel, imagine this"
The 'Gure Gaskuña' had been docked for maintenance since June, following the end of its operational period. These repairs were ongoing amidst the broader halt of the trawler fleet, which has not been fishing for weeks due to "exorbitant diesel prices." The fleet awaits new government aid to resume operations.
Mikel Ortiz, manager of the Ondarroa deep-sea fishing fleet, explained that the mandatory pause due to a 227% increase in diesel prices allowed for more thorough maintenance to ensure the vessel was ready for when profitability allowed a return to fishing. "We'll see what damage the fire leaves on the boat; we hope it's as minimal as possible," he added.
The sector also anticipates that the central government will address their demands next week, potentially extending diesel subsidies until December and increasing them under conditions that would enable them to return to sea.
