RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – At least 13 people died as a result of a shipwreck early on Saturday morning, February 29th, near Boca do Jari, in the southern region of Amapá state. According to the Port Authority, 46 people were rescued alive but the search for other survivors continue.
The vessel Anna Karoline III had left Porto do Grego, in the municipality of Santana, bound for Santarém, in the state of Pará.
According to the Amapá government, two aircraft of the Airborne Tactical Group (a helicopter and a Cessna airplane) were deployed to assist in the rescue. A base will be set up nearby to assist the victims.
The Port Captain’s Office reported that passengers fell in the water when the ship capsized as a result of strong winds; some were rescued by a ferry that was nearby.
After learning of the incident, the Port Authority immediately dispatched a search and rescue team to the wreck site to search for the missing. An inquiry was set up to ascertain the causes, circumstances, and responsibilities of the accident.