BOGOTA, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 12 people have died, including seven children, after two vessels sank close to a port on Colombia’s Pacific coast.
Naval authorities say the causes of the incident are still being investigated.
The vessels sank on Saturday close to Tumaco, Colombia’s second most-important Pacific port, Admiral Jose David Espitia, commander of the Poseidon anti-drugs task force, said.
“Unfortunately, there are 12 deceased,” he said.
“We have units of the coast guard and flyovers with planes and helicopters in the area searching for other people,” he added without saying how many people remained missing at sea.
The two vessels were filled with passengers when they set off from Tumaco toward San Jose del Guayabo, according to officials in the area.
“Right now, we don’t know what caused the incident but none of those who died had life jackets,” Espitia said, adding local residents and fishermen had saved 36 of the passengers.
Espitia said that 35 people were rescued and that a coordinated investigation between the police, the armed forces, and other authorities is underway to discover the cause of the accident.
“We are continuing to work, with the first priority being minimizing the pain that this tragedy has caused for families due to the loss (of life) and the uncertainty of the situation in which they find themselves,” he said.
According to witnesses, the boats were ferrying about 50 people to San Jose del Guayabo for a birthday party, but the vessels capsized due to bad weather and high waves.
