Tourist boat sinks in Colombia, killing at least six

iStock/Thinkstock(MEDELLIN, Colombia) — At least six people are dead and 16 missing after a tourist boat capsized near Guatapé, Colombia, according to emergency officials.

Other boats quickly came to the rescue, saving 99 people immediately after the sinking, the head of the Antioquia Department’s Disasters Prevention unit said, and another 40 people swam to shore.

At least 133 were rescued as of Sunday night, the official said, and at least 25 people were transported to hospitals.

Divers with the police and Army helicopters assisted in the search and rescue operation.

 

.@FuerzaAereaCol apoya a esta hora rescate de personas de embarcación que naufragó en Guatapé, Antioquia #FAC pic.twitter.com/f5yowjBcMe

— FuerzaAéreaColombian (@FuerzaAereaCol) June 25, 2017

 

An eyewitness told the BBC the boat appeared to sink in less than five minutes.

The cause of the shipwreck was unknown as of Sunday night.

Copyright © 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

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