AMAZONAS, BRAZIL — A passenger and cargo boat sank after hitting a submerged log in the Paraná do Ramos River, in Boa Vista do Ramos, in the interior of Amazonas state, on Friday morning (2). According to a passenger, there were children, pets, vehicles and other belongings on board. No one was injured.

Student Felipe Santos said the boat was traveling when it hit the log head-on. The collision damaged the lower part of the boat and caused water to enter.

“It was already daylight. The boat was coming straight ahead and there was a log, like a cut tree, in the middle of the river. It wasn’t floating,” Santos said.

According to the passenger, the captain steered the boat toward the riverbank while the passengers left the vessel. When the boat approached the riverbank, everyone began disembarking, but the boat eventually capsized and sank.

“The boat hit the log head-on, everything underneath broke and water started coming in. Then it kept going toward the riverbank and, when it got there, everyone started getting out,” he said.

As the boat capsized, some vehicles, a laptop and other belongings remained inside the vessel or were carried away by the water. Felipe said everyone managed to get out safely before the boat sank.

On Friday morning, the passengers were rescued by a larger vessel that operates the route between Manaus and Maués. They continued their journey and arrived in the municipality of Maués.

Amazon Agency