The tragedy that occurred on the night of December 27 in the waters of the Cauca Pacific, when a boat capsized on the route between Buenaventura and Timbiquí, has caused deep consternation in the region.
In fact, hours after the fatal outcome of the accident became known, Given the preliminary deaths of four people, including two minors, and two other passengers still missing, the mayor’s office of Timbiquí expressed its condolences to the families..
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In an official statement, the government led by Mayor Kilian Cuero Ruiz expressed its “deepest sense of solidarity and condolences to the families and communities affected by this unfortunate event.”
The local mayor’s office said it “accompanies with respect and pain those who today are faced with the loss of their loved ones” and assured that “institutional support for the affected families will be maintained amid the emergency.”“.
The statement also highlighted the community’s commitment to the victims and announced an alliance between institutions to clarify the reasons for the shipwreck.
“The Office of the Mayor of Timbiquí, led by Mayor Kilian Cuero Ruiz, expresses its deepest solidarity and condolences to the families affected by the unfortunate shipwreck that occurred today in the waters of the Colombian Pacific, on the sea route between Buenaventura and the municipality of Timbiquí“, remarked the administration.
Regarding the response to the emergency, the Timbiquí mayor’s office stated that “work continues in close coordination with the relevant authorities to search for all missing people.”
According to the administration “The necessary measures are being taken to address the emergency, with priority given to protecting lives and supporting affected families.”.
Available information suggests that the boat was carrying passengers between coastal towns in the Cauca Pacific when it reportedly collided with a floating log and sank. Some inmates were helped, others were unable to get to safety, increasing the number of deaths and missing people.
In this sense, The General Maritime Directorate (Dimar), in a statement released on December 23, recalled that the national campaign “Colombia Navigate Safely” is active from December 13 to January 13. The aim of this initiative is to strengthen controls and prevention measures to protect human life at sea during the period of greatest passenger influx.
“We are reaching out to all authorities in a coordinated and interagency manner so that all tourists, locals, visitors and foreigners who visit the beaches of the entire Caribbean and Pacific coasts can carry out their year-end holiday activities in a safe manner and with the guarantee that all authorities are attentive and accompanied,” said Captain Bernardo Silva Flórez, captain of the Port of Barranquilla, in conversation with Ground zero.
Dimar reported that through the Buenaventura Port Captaincy, inspections of passenger transport vessels have been intensified, including verification of documentation, maximum permitted capacity, technical conditions and the presence of mandatory safety equipment.
The priority recommendations include continuous use of the life jacket, compliance with the maximum number of occupants and the exclusive use of approved marine services to reduce the risk of accidents.
Likewise, the Timbiquí mayor’s office concluded its statement by highlighting the municipal community in collective mourning. “Timbiquí supports, unites and hopes in these difficult times,” the government concluded.
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