The region of Navarra, in northern Spain, was struck by a tragic incident following a drowning accident in the Esca River, in the Roncal Valley, which claimed the lives of a Moroccan mother and her two children, leaving their family and the local community in deep sorrow.
The Moroccan family, originally from the city of Taourirt, had been living in the Roncal area for approximately four years, where they were well integrated into the local community. The family consisted of the father, the mother and their four children. The two children who lost their lives, aged 7 and 11, attended the local school in Roncal.
The tragic accident resulted in the drowning deaths of the mother and her two children. The family’s two youngest children survived: a three-year-old girl and a boy approximately one year old, both born in Navarra.
Immediately following this painful tragedy, extensive efforts were mobilized to support the bereaved Moroccan family. The Spanish local authorities, in coordination and cooperation with the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Morocco in Bilbao and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Madrid, took the necessary measures to assist the family members and provide them with the support and assistance required during these exceptionally difficult circumstances.
Since the first moments following the incident, the relevant Moroccan authorities have continued their efforts and contacts to follow up on the various aspects of the tragedy, in coordination with the victims’ family and the competent authorities. They are also working to facilitate the related procedures in order to ensure continued support for the family and alleviate the consequences of this painful loss.
In this context, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, through the department responsible for Moroccans Residing Abroad, and in coordination with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Madrid and the Consulate General of the Kingdom in Bilbao, is working to provide the bereaved family with the necessary care and support, as part of the attention the Kingdom devotes to members of the Moroccan community living abroad.
This mobilization reflects the High Solicitude that His Majesty King Mohammed VI, May God Assist Him, extends to Moroccans residing abroad, as well as the commitment to supporting them and standing by their side, particularly in difficult humanitarian circumstances and in the face of tragedies that may affect members of the Moroccan community outside the country.
In the same context, the necessary resources have been mobilized to cover all costs and expenses related to the repatriation of the bodies of the three victims to Morocco, where their funerals and burial will take place. Support for the family is also continuing, along with efforts to facilitate the procedures required for the repatriation of the bodies, in coordination with the relevant authorities in Morocco and Spain.
These efforts reflect the extensive mobilization and coordination among the various Moroccan authorities concerned, with the aim of standing by the family during this painful ordeal and ensuring continued support throughout the different stages and procedures following the tragedy.
The tragedy has caused profound shock and sadness throughout the Roncal Valley, where the family was well regarded and respected within the local community. Residents of the area have expressed their solidarity and extended their condolences to the victims’ family following this painful loss.
May God have mercy on the victims, grant them eternal peace, and give their family and loved ones patience and comfort.
