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Six killed as Colombia boat sinks | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
At least six people died when a passenger boat sank on a reservoir in north-western Colombia, officials say. | |
They say that 133 people were rescued, but 16 are still missing after the four-deck Almirante went down near the popular resort town of Guatapé. | |
There were about 170 people aboard. Witness Juan Quiroz told the BBC the boat sank in less than five minutes. | |
Leisure boats quickly came to the rescue, hauling victims from the water and the top deck of the vessel. | Leisure boats quickly came to the rescue, hauling victims from the water and the top deck of the vessel. |
Army helicopters and divers have been sent to the scene. | Army helicopters and divers have been sent to the scene. |
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, who travelled to the scene, said six people had been killed, revising down an initial death toll of nine given by officials. | |
More than 20 people have been taken to a hospital in Guatapé. | |
Eyewitness Louisa Murphy told the BBC: "We saw things flying off the side of the boat. And within, I think, probably about 20 second the boat had sort of sunk with just the top deck visible." | |
Luis Bernardo Morales, a fire service captain involved in the rescue, said the boat was very close to the port when it sank. | |
"We do not know whether it was a mechanical failure, an overloading or something to do with the currents that caused it to sink," AFP news agency quoted him as saying. | |
Guatapé is a popular Andean resort town, known for its water sports and recreational activities. | Guatapé is a popular Andean resort town, known for its water sports and recreational activities. |