Four people, including a child, are confirmed dead after a tourist boat sank off the coast of Cancun, Mexico, Monday evening.
Over Capacity Boat Capsizes, Captian Arrested
The boat, called Diosa del Mar, which translates to “Goddess of the Sea”, was carrying 17 Mexican tourists, the captain, and a helper, Raciel López Salazar, the attorney general of Quintana Roo state, said during a press conference.
The boat left Cancún on Monday night to take tourists to Isla Mujeres, an island about 3.5 miles offshore from Cancún. While in the water, the boat caught a strong sea swell, and the vessel began to sink as it took on water.
The tourists went to a restaurant on the island and were returning to Cancún when it wrecked. Most of the passengers had to be rescued and several were taken to the hospital, authorities said in a Facebook post.
After it was reported the boat had exceeded its legal capacity, the captain was taken into custody Monday night and now faces charges of negligent conduct.
Quintana Roo’s state coordination of the civil protection department said a boat search-and-rescue operation was carried out to rescue passengers with the help of local agencies and the Mexican navy. Some of those rescued had to receive medical attention.
Riviera Maya News reported that those who died included one woman, two men, and a 10-year-old boy.
Authorities have not yet released any of the passenger’s identities.
