‘El Almirante’ which suck yesterday.
Authorities continue to search for survivors after Guatapé boat tragedy leaves nine dead and 15 missing. The ‘El Almirante’ was carrying about 170 passengers when it sank in the well-known Antioquia tourist destination.
Authorities continue to search for survivors after Guatapé boat tragedy leaves nine dead and 15 missing. ‘El Almirante’ was carrying about 170 passengers when it sank in the well-known Antioquia tourist destination.
What should have been an idyllic holiday boat trip on the popular El Peñol-Guatapé reservoir turned to tragedy on Sunday June 25 after a four-storey passenger craft called ‘El Almirante’ sank at approximately 2pm.
The exact numbers of people onboard is as yet unknown due to the lack of a passenger manifest. However, speaking last night from Guatapé, President Santos said that 122 people had been rescued while the search for a further 31 missing would continue overnight. That number of missing has been reduced to 15 this morning, though stormy conditions hampered rescue activities during the night.
Nearby boats picked up many of the passengers who were thrown into the water when ‘El Almirante’ apparently split in half and questions quickly arose in the media about the safety record of the boat.
The Fiscalía has already opened an enquiry to see whether the boat’s owners and captain will be culpable for manslaughter and personal injury charges as the rescued passengers report a lack of life jackets and emergency protocols.
Louisa Murphy, who was visiting from the UK and witnessed the Guatapé boat tragedy, tweeted that it was “Without a doubt the most horrific scene I have witnessed in my life.”
