Sunday 14 October 2012

Rescuers put search on hold after boat tragedy


Bystanders look on as rescue teams bring in survivors and victims of a capsized boat near Hout Bay, Cape Town. (Carien du Plessis, Twitter)

Johannesburg – Rescue personnel on Saturday suspended search operations after a boat capsized near Hout Bay, in Cape Town.

At least one person died and three people are still missing after the charter vessel capsized, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said.

Rescue teams worked through most of the afternoon trying to rescue victims trapped in the hull of the boat, and looking for other missing passengers.

"One person has already been freed and was taken to hospital. The woman is in a stable but serious condition and we expect her to make a full recovery," NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said.

The Maroshka, was carrying about 41 people when it capsized near Duiker Island at about 15:00, Lambinon said.

It was not known what caused the boat to capsize.

Initial reports

Initially the NSRI said that four people died and that 33 or 34 people were on board, but later revised the numbers.

"The revised numbers are that 41 people were on board the boat, 35 people are accounted for and one person of the 35 is deceased not four as originally reported," Lambinon said.

The city's disaster risk management centre said three people were still missing.

"Twenty-five adults were recovered, as well as four children and four crew members," spokesperson Wilfred Solomons-Johannes said.

He said the nationalities of the passengers were still being determined and the city would be communicating with foreign officials.

The search operations were set to resume at 06:00, City Press journalist Carien du Plessis tweeted from the scene.

- News24

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