Helicopter for night time emergencies to be bought

THE Balearic ministry of the Interior will buy a helicopter to attend to night time emergencies and rescues, something which is impossible at present, as the Guardia Civil helicopter is only operative during the day. This was announced yesterday by minister José María Rodríguez, after presenting rescue equipment ceded by his department to the Guardia Civil Mountain Rescue Group (GREIM). Among those present were Colonel in chief of the Guardia Civil 17th Sector Basilio Sánchez Rufo, and the director general of emergenices, Joan Pol. Rodriguez explained that the helicopter would be operative 24 hours a day, and would provide a service for the GREIM and also for the emergency services of each of the islands. This will prevent situations such as last June, when the port of Ciutadella in Minorca was hit by a meteotsunami and the emergency teams could not reach the neighbouring island until the following morning. And in Ibiza, a woman spent nearly 14 hours waiting to be rescued. “We knew where she was but could not reach her without a helicopter,” Rodriguez said, adding “we need to overcome the limitations of urgent transport to be able to tackle any situation as soon as it arises.”