12 killed after two boats hit in Amazon rainforest

At least 12 people have died and about 50 are still missing after a landslide hit two boats anchored in a river port in Peru’s Amazon rainforest region, local media reported.

The landslide led to the sinking of a ferry and caused serious damage to another passenger ship that had dozens of people on board, according to a police report carried by the Andina News Agency.

This happened at around 05:00 local time (10:00 GMT) when passengers were scheduled to disembark in Ibaria, in the central Ucayali region, on Monday.

The injured were taken to hospital while the Peruvian National Police and Navy search for more survivors. It is feared that there may be children among the missing.

The landslide caused “erosion” of the bank of the Ucayali River – the source of the Amazon River – in the country. National Emergency Operations Center He said on X.

Agence France-Presse reported that about 50 people were on board one of the boats.

A navy official told AFP that rescue operations hampered the rapid flow of river water.

Reuters reported, citing Andina, that the passengers included children, teachers and doctors.

Authorities are working with families gathered at the disaster site to try to determine how many people still need to be found.

Local media reported that one of the boats left Pucallpa for the north on Sunday and was heading towards the riverside communities of Caco Macaya, Coriaca del Caco and Pueblo Nuevo del Caco.