Personal Injury Law

Death toll in shipwreck in Brazil reaches seven

By Lipcon, Margulies & Alsina, P.A.

RIO DE JANEIRO - The number of deaths in the boat accident in the Amazon River in Brazil's northern Para state reached seven, authorities said on Tuesday.

The rescue teams managed to find five bodies earlier in the day. During the morning, the bodies of a woman and a child had been taken from the water as well. The victims have yet to be identified.

According to the local authorities, the shipwreck took place in late Monday between the municipalities of Prainha and Monte Alegre, when the boat named Almirante Barroso overturned and sank.

It is not known what caused the ship to overturn. One of the possibilities is that the boat may have hit a sandbank and the waters at that point of the Amazon River are muddy, which may have hindered visibility.

Additionally, the fact that the number of passengers had surpassed the ship's maximum capacity may also be the cause of the tragedy. The Almirante Barroso had a maximum capacity of 100 people, but was transporting at least 101.

Teams of divers as well as boats and a helicopter were sent to the area and are currently searching for other victims, who might have gotten trapped in the cabins.

Ninety four of the ship's occupants were rescued by other boats which were passing by. Most are currently staying at a nearby farm, but some injured were taken to hospitals. (PNA/Xinhua) ALM

Full post as published by Cruise Ship Law on December 23, 2009 (boomark / email).