A Spanish marine research vessel usually dedicated to studying ocean ecosystems has pivoted to a critical new mission: aiding search efforts for hundreds missing after catastrophic floods devastated parts of Spain.
The Ramon Margalef — equipped with high-tech sensors and a submersible robot — is scanning a 36-square-kilometer stretch of the Mediterranean Sea (roughly 5,000 soccer fields!). Its crew hopes to locate vehicles swept offshore during last week’s deadly floods, which have claimed over 200 lives.
With nearly 100 people still officially missing (and authorities warning the toll could rise), the ship’s advanced tech might help families find closure. ‘It’s like swapping a lab coat for a rescue uniform,’ one crew member said. ‘Every vehicle we find could answer someone’s prayers.’
As Spain mourns, this science-to-rescue pivot highlights how crises can unite communities — and tech — for humanity.
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Spanish research vessel to search for people missing in floods
cgtn.com