Ferry sinks leaving six dead and 16 still missing
AT LEAST six people died and 16 were still missing yesterday after a tourist boat sank in Colombia.
Six people haver died and 16 are missing after a ferry sank in Columbia
About 170 people were on board the four-deck El Almirante when it went down in a reservoir near the city of Medellin.
Scuba divers were last night searching for bodies, officials said yesterday.
Leisure boats, jet skis, soldiers and divers joined the search and rescue operation and pulled survivors from the water on Sunday night, with 20 victims rushed to hospital.
Witnesses caught up in the tragedy described “chaotic” scenes as the boat sank in less than five minutes.
Survivor Lorena Salazar said: “Those on the first and second floors sank immediately. All we could do was scream for help. It was completely chaotic.”
Louisa Murphy added: “We saw things flying off the side of the boat. Within about 20 seconds just the top deck was visible.”
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Laura Baquero, who was also on board, claimed the lower two decks were “too crowded” and contained many children.
It was completely chaotic
The authorities have been relying on family members and survivors to report the whereabouts of their loved ones because there was no passenger list.
Leisure boats, jet skis, soldiers and divers joined the search and rescue operation
An investigation is now under way into what caused the boat to capsize.
Some local residents claimed it had sunk twice before.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said early information suggested the boat was not overcrowded.