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Ferry sinks in Amazon collision | Ferry sinks in Amazon collision |
(about 14 hours later) | |
At least 10 people have been killed and nine are still missing after a ferry sank as a result of a collision with a barge on the Brazilian Amazon. | |
The vessels collided early on Thursday near Itacoatiara in the jungle state of Amazonas, and most victims seem to have been trapped in cabins on the ferry. | |
More than 100 people were aboard the ferry at the time, and rescue teams pulled 90 people from the water. | |
But chances of finding any more survivors were slim, officials said. | |
A navy vessel, a helicopter and some 70 rescuers are being used to help in the search operation, which is due to continue after dawn on Friday. | |
Lunar eclipse | Lunar eclipse |
State fire spokesman Lt Clovis Araujo said a nearby floating police station and a number of small boats had rescued 92 people from the ferry, the Almirante Monteiro. | State fire spokesman Lt Clovis Araujo said a nearby floating police station and a number of small boats had rescued 92 people from the ferry, the Almirante Monteiro. |
There were no reports of damage or casualties aboard the heavy goods barge, he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. | There were no reports of damage or casualties aboard the heavy goods barge, he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. |
The confirmed dead, he added, were a woman and two children. | The confirmed dead, he added, were a woman and two children. |
Nearly all the survivors appeared to be passengers sleeping in hammocks on the ferry's deck, said Aguinaldo Rodrigues , a state public safety department spokesman. | |
While it was too early to establish the cause of the collision, he added, visibility had been "very poor" during the lunar eclipse which began on Wednesday night. | While it was too early to establish the cause of the collision, he added, visibility had been "very poor" during the lunar eclipse which began on Wednesday night. |
The collision happened on an isolated stretch of the river. | The collision happened on an isolated stretch of the river. |
The ferry had a capacity of 165 passengers but was not full at the time of the accident. | The ferry had a capacity of 165 passengers but was not full at the time of the accident. |
An inquiry will now be launched to try to establish the cause of the collision and an initial report is expected within 90 days. | An inquiry will now be launched to try to establish the cause of the collision and an initial report is expected within 90 days. |