Killer whales sink $128,000 yacht in Mediterranean in unusual attack
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A yacht valued at $128,000 was sunk by a group of killer whales in the Mediterranean Sea, leaving the crew stunned.
The incident occurred 22 hours into a 10-day voyage from Vilamoura, Portugal, to Greece, involving Robert Powell, 59, and his crew. The attack happened around 8 p.m. when a pod of five killer whales approached the 39-foot sailboat.
The orcas, typically known for their intelligence and curious nature, displayed uncharacteristically aggressive behavior.
They circled the yacht and, in a coordinated manner, began ramming it. The initial assault focused on the boat's rudder, with the orcas striking it approximately 15 times, disabling the vessel's ability to steer. Following this, the whales systematically targeted other parts of the boat, including the keel and stern.
Robert Powell, who was onboard to celebrate his birthday, described the attack as a calculated effort to sink the yacht. He noted that the orcas seemed to understand the boat's weak points and acted with a clear intention to destroy it. Powell likened the attack to a wolf pack's hunting strategy, with the whales taking turns to ram the boat, sometimes two at a time.
Despite efforts to escape, the crew was unable to evade the determined orcas. Fortunately, a Spanish salvage vessel arrived in time to rescue them just before the yacht sank 130 feet into the sea.
Such aggressive behavior from killer whales is rare, as they are known for their complex social behaviors and typically do not attack human vessels unprovoked.
Experts speculate that the unusual aggression could be due to environmental stressors, changes in their habitat, or previous negative interactions with boats.