A bajara-type boat sank in the early hours of Sunday morning in the Jacu river region, near the São João do Jacu community in rural Parintins.
Seven people, all from the same family, were on the boat travelling to the city at the time of the accident.
According to the victims, the shipwreck was caused by the recklessness of a ferry transporting cattle in the region.
There were no fatalities, but the victims, including a one-year-old child, suffered injuries to their bodies.
One of them had to be taken to Jofre Cohen Hospital.
According to the victims, it was around 4am when the accident happened.
Farmer Antônio José Moraes was driving the bajara.
He says that he signalled to the ferry drivers that they were nearby.
‘They didn't take any action to get the ferry out of the way of the bajara.
It was too heavy, too light and ended up causing the accident that took the whole family down with it,’ said the farmer.
Alcione Moraes, Antônio's daughter, was also on the boat at the time of the accident. She says she helped save the lives of her sister and mother.
‘I woke up to the screams of my sister, who was holding her baby.
I only saw it when it hit and sank.
My only reaction was to grab my sister's hand and pull her out to try and float her.
I managed to save my sister, but I ended up sinking with the boat. Fortunately, I got out with a few bruises,’ said Alcione.
According to the family, the ferry carrying the cattle, which belonged to a Parintins business group, was travelling at high speed.
After the accident, the ferry crew helped rescue the victims, but they were left on the riverbank because the ferry was travelling on and could not continue to the city.
In addition to the damage to the boat, the family lost goods and money obtained from their weekend's work.
The case was registered at Parintins' 3rd Interactive Police Station and the Civil Police will continue their investigations.
Source: Amazon Agency