At least 12 people, including three children, died on Monday when a landslide sank two boats docked at a river port in Peru’s Ucayali region, with rescue teams currently searching for dozens of missing individuals. The incident occurred at dawn in the Amazon jungle port of Iparia, where erosion along the Ucayali River triggered the collapse of a riverbank, submerging two vessels.
Authorities confirmed approximately 50 passengers were aboard one boat at the time of the disaster, while the second vessel was reportedly empty. Navy Captain Jonathan Novoa stated 25 people were injured and up to 40 remain unaccounted for, with fast-flowing water and whirlpools complicating rescue efforts. “We are in the flood season… and at the time of the accident there was fog,” Novoa explained, emphasizing operational challenges.
Distraught families gathered at the scene as divers and emergency personnel worked to locate survivors. Footage showed personal belongings and cargo floating in the turbulent waters, underscoring the suddenness of the tragedy. The COEN national emergency center has mobilized naval support while coordinating with local officials to verify passenger lists and assess the full scale of the crisis.
