A group of killer whales known to attack boats in southwestern Europe sank a 15-meter sailing yacht in the Strait of Gibraltar after tearing apart its hull. This is the fifth time killer whales have sent ships to the bottom of the sea in the last three years.

Orcas, which terrorized boats in southwestern Europe, sank its fifth yacht in three years. Experts have warned that more attacks are likely in the coming months after orcas unexpectedly changed their behavior earlier this year.

An unknown number of killer whales on Sunday, May 12 (Orcinus orca) attacked the 49-foot (15-meter) sailing yacht Alboran Cognac in the Strait of Gibraltar, a narrow body of water between Southern Spain and North Africa. The region separating the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean. According to Reuters, the orcas hit the hull and rudder of the boat several times during the attack, which started around 9 a.m. local time.

The yacht’s two-man crew radioed for help and was rescued by an oil tanker. However, during the attack, the ship’s hull was severely damaged and the yacht began to take on water, eventually causing it to sink, Reuters reported.

The attack is believed to be carried out by a growing number of individuals from the Iberian subpopulation of killer whales (a group of about 40 killer whales living off the coasts of Spain, Portugal, Morocco and Gibraltar) that attack boats throughout their lives. December since 2020. .

Most attacks occur in and around the Strait of Gibraltar between May and August each year. However, earlier this year some of the highly social predators were spotted circling a boat in northern Spain, suggesting they had spread much further and earlier than usual.

According to the statement made by the Spanish Maritime Safety and Rescue Association, Spanish authorities warned boaters not to move too far from the shore and not to stop their ships if orcas approach.