RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) — At least 6 people died, including a 5-year-old child, in an accident with a boat that occurred Saturday night on the Rio Grande, on the border between the municipalities of Rifaina, in the state of São Paulo, and Sacramento, in Minas Gerais (southeast) in Brazil, official sources reported today.
According to the Fire Department, 15 people were traveling on the boat who had left a floating bar where a show was being held and were heading towards a home located on the banks of the river.
During the journey, the boat collided with a dock that, according to witnesses, lacked signage and night lighting and with the impact some occupants were thrown backwards and were trapped after the boat overturned.
The victims were rescued with the help of area residents, divers and agents of the Rifaina Municipal Civil Guard.
The 6 people died at the scene, apparently due to drowning, according to the police report, which indicated that 3 of them were wearing life jackets at the time of the accident.
Another 3 people were taken to a health unit in Rifaina with minor injuries and later discharged.
According to the Fire Department, the driver of the boat, who is also among the fatalities, did not have the required authorization to pilot boats.
The Tietê-Paraná River Captaincy reported in a statement that it sent experts to the site to gather information that will allow opening the corresponding Administrative Investigation into Accidents and Navigational Events (IAFN), which will investigate the causes, circumstances and possible responsibilities of the incident.
