A three-year-old girl is among the two dead and seven missing from a packed tourist boat that sank just minutes into its journey into the Brazilian Amazon.
The craft went down near the famous Meeting of the Waters in Manaus, Brazil, on Friday.
Harrowing footage showed women, children and men floating in the water wearing life jackets as nearby boats rushed to the scene of the sinking to rescue as many people as possible.
The boat had left the Brazilian city at 12.30pm on Friday, heading for Nova Olinda do Norte.
But it sank where the Rio Negro and Rio Solimões, two major rivers, meet but do not mix.
A total of 71 people were rescued by firefighters, though the Amazonas State Health Department confirmed the death of three-year-old girl Samila de Souza.
The young girl was taken to a nearby children’s hospital, but was sadly pronounced dead upon arrival.
The second fatal victim was identified as 22-year-old Lara Bianca. Her body was brought to the fire department’s river patrol unit at the Port of Manaus around 6pm.
A three-year-old girl is among the two dead and seven missing from a packed tourist boat that sank just minutes into its journey into the Brazilian Amazon
The craft went down near the famous Meeting of the Waters in Manaus, Brazil, on Friday
Harrowing footage showed women, children and men floating in the water wearing life jackets
Colonel Elliton, commander of the specialised firefighters, said most of those saved escaped serious injury, telling local media: ‘Most of them had already been rescued by boats passing by the area; the assistance was provided by specialised teams focused on pre-hospital care and rescue for those who were still in the water.’
A total of 25 firefighters, three boats and eight fire engines were sent to rescue the victims, along with a police boat and an ambulance.
Brazil’s navy also sent a river rescue team and a helicopter to find passengers.
Divers searches below the water’s surface, while other teams scanned the riverbanks for survivors.
The boat’s operator, Lima de Abreu Navegações, said in a statement: ‘Currently, we are conducting a conference call with all individuals who were on board, including passengers and crew, in order to confirm the information with complete responsibility and transparency.
We are also investigating, together with the competent authorities, all the circumstances that led to the incident.’
Local cops said that the boat’s captain was arrested for manslaughter, but was released on bail.
Though specialised investigators are now looking into the case, a multi-agency task force has been formed to coordinate a response to the situation.
As for the victims of the tragedy, support teams, including psychologists and social workers, were sent to assist families awaiting news of their loved ones.
