This tragedy comes a few days after the lifeless body of Dries De Graeve, a 29-year-old from Ghent who disappeared at the end of November in Morocco, was found last week in the Agadir region.
The first observations on the ground and the personal effects discovered at the top of the ravine favor the hypothesis according to which the victim lost his life following a fall, add the same sources. The services of the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie have opened a judicial investigation, under the supervision of the prosecution, to determine the circumstances of the tragedy.
These macabre discoveries bring to 741 the number of Belgian compatriots who lost their lives in 2024, according to Pierre Stevelynck, spokesperson for the FPS Foreign Affairs. A slight increase compared to previous years during which 700 Belgians lost their lives in 2023, 740 in 2022 and 670 in 2021.
“The real number is higher”
“This is the number of deaths of which Foreign Affairs has been informed. Since deaths are not always communicated to us, the actual number is higher“, specifies Pierre Stevelynck. “Information on the cause of death is not available.”
“Concerning the measures in the event of disappearance, if the family in Belgium reports the disappearance to the local police, follow-up can be carried out by the Missing Persons Unit. Coordination meetings can be held between the FPS Foreign Affairs, the Missing Persons Unit, the local police and the competent public prosecutor's office.”he adds.
Disappearance of a Belgian couple in Tenerife: a mutilated body found near the place where that of Laura Trappeniers was discovered
In certain cases, judicial authorities may decide to send letters rogatory to support local investigators. This was particularly the case in the case of the Belgian couple who disappeared in Tenerife and where only the body of Laura Trappeniers could be found off the island. “Our posts abroad may be involved, in order to contact local authorities, inquire with hospitals, etc.”indicates Pierre Stevelynck.
The actions undertaken by the FPS Foreign Affairs are adapted according to the context of each file. “Concerning international letters rogatory (CRI), several legal bases including different treaties and conventions covering several specific judicial areas exist and make it possible to execute CRIs abroad, at the request of the Belgian judicial authorities. If no legal basis exists, which is rather rare, Belgium offers reciprocity. If this is accepted, the CRI will be executed on this basis, despite the absence of an agreement“, he concludes.
