Orcas Attack Sailboats Off Portugal: Dramatic Rescues as Killer Whales Target Vessels Near Lisbon

Orcas Attack Sailboats Off Portuguese Coast

Two sailing crews were rescued on Saturday after orcas attacked their boats off the coast of Portugal, near Lisbon, according to Portuguese authorities. These recent confrontations at sea are part of a growing pattern of incidents in recent years where orcas, also known as killer whales, ambush seafarers in the region.

Details of the Attacks

Five people were rescued from a tourist vessel sailing off Fonte da Telha beach after the orcas attacked, as reported by Portugal's National Maritime Authority. Another four people were found safe after a similar attack farther north along Portugal's western coast, off the Bay of Cascais. The agency confirmed in a news release shared on social media that the attacks occurred in the early afternoon, and no injuries were reported.

Search and rescue crews from Lisbon and the lifeguard station in Cascais responded to the incidents after receiving alerts around 12:30 local time. When they arrived at Fonte da Telha, responders found that the five people had already fled their boat and moved to a different tourist vessel that offered assistance. For the attack off the Bay of Cascais, responders located the four-person sailboat crew safe and helped transport their boat to a port near Lisbon.

Video Evidence and Online Reports

Reports circulating online suggest that the tourist vessel attacked off Fonte da Telha may have sunk as a result of the orca assault. Video footage shared by the sailing company Mercedes-Benz Oceanic Lounge on Instagram purportedly captures the incident, adding a visual dimension to the event. CBS News has reached out to Portugal's National Maritime Authority for further information.

Increasing Orca Interactions

Documented interactions between orcas and humans have been on the rise over the last several years, particularly in waters off the coasts of Spain and Portugal and around the Strait of Gibraltar. Research group Orca Ibérica GTOA has recorded hundreds of such "interactions" with sailing vessels in the region between 2020 and 2024. These incidents often involve pods of killer whales ramming, pushing, and in some cases, successfully turning boats, causing significant damage.