BELÉM, BRAZIL — A boat transporting about 2,000 cans of açaí sank on Sunday night (23) in front of the pier in the town of Chaves, in the Marajó archipelago. No injuries were reported.

The vessel was approaching the town when, according to witnesses, the strong current of the Amazon River caused it to collide with part of the pier’s structure.

Within minutes, the boat began to sink. The crew tried unsuccessfully to bail water out of the vessel using buckets. The entire açaí cargo was dumped into the river, yet the boat continued to go under.

At the site, a task force was assembled in an attempt to remove the vessel from the river, but the operation was halted by strong tides.

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