Peruvian Association in Galicia asks for help for the families of the shipwrecked

The association of Peruvians in the Spanish region of Galicia (northwest) asked the authorities of Spain and Peru for urgent help for the families of those who disappeared in the shipwreck of the fishing boat Villa de Pitanxo in Canada, which occurred on Tuesday, February 15, and which included six Peruvians.

“There are children, siblings, sons, who are left without their parents and the main source of income for these families. We hope that the authorities continue and justice is done and compensation is given,” said the association’s president, Pedro Arana Rojas.

On Galicia Some 14,000 Peruvians currently reside, 43% of whom live in Vigo, and many have found work aboard fishing vessels.

In that city, headquarters of the organization, six crew members of Peruvian origin resided, one of whom has died and five are missing.

One of them is William Arévalo, who has no family in the city, but two children in Peru to whom he sent a good part of his income every month for their support.

“How are these children doing?” asks Arana Rojas, who recalls that five of the victims of Peruvian origin had Spanish nationality.

For their families, they request urgent financial support, since they all live for rent and with the change of the month bills will begin to arrive that they will not have with what to face.

“There are ten days left until the end of February, many things have to be paid and the one who has died is the one who sustained them,” he says.

This was communicated to the vice-consul of Peru during a visit he made to Vigo after the sinking of the ship and, according to Arana Rojas, “he has taken note”, as have other authorities, including the mayor of the Galician city, the socialist Abel Knight.

The Peruvian consulate also pointed out the importance for the families of the victims that the bodies be found: “it is sad that the families that are having a hard time cannot watch over the bodies”.