Figueira da Foz declares three days of mourning over deaths of fishermen in sinking of Virgem Dolorosa

The Figueira da Foz Chamber has decided to declare three days of municipal mourning, from Friday to Sunday, with the municipal flag flown at half-mast on municipal buildings, due to the death of the fishermen from the “Virgin of Sorrows”, as announced this Thursday.

According to a note from the municipality, the mayor of Figueira da Foz, Pedro Santana Lopes, “indicated a municipal mourning period of three days,” from July 5 to 7, which will be carried out from Friday, “moving to the installation of the municipal flag at half-mast in municipal buildings.”

The initiative aims to “express regret for the death of the fishermen from the Virgem Dolorosa, which sank early in the morning of July 3 off the beaches of São Pedro de Moel and Vieira de Leiria,” the note said.

On Wednesday at 4:33 a.m., the local command of the Nazaré Marine Police received an alert about the sinking of the fishing vessel Virgem Dolorosa off the municipality of Marinha Grande, Leiria district.

Of the 17 crew members, 11 were rescued. Three people died and three were missing in Leiroza, Figueira da Foz.

The search for the three missing people was intensified this morning, and an underwater search was also launched.

Two of the 11 rescued fishermen were still hospitalized at Figueira da Foz Regional Hospital this morning, the facility said.

The funeral of the three victims will take place on Saturday in the municipality of Figueira da Foz, a source from Funerária Oliveira told Luce today.

According to Miguel Oliveira, the first funeral will take place at 11:00 at the Centro Funerário Oliveira in Figueira da Foz (Coimbra district), where the funeral of another fisherman will begin at 14:00.

At 16:00, the funeral service for the third victim of the shipwreck will take place in the Main Church of Lavos.

The deceased victims were from Figueira da Foz, Buarcos and Lavos and were between 42 and 54 years old, according to the funeral home.