Strong winds during inclement weather caused a tourist boat off the coast of Nicaragua to capsize, killing 13 people.
The victims were all female tourists from Costa Rica.
A total of 19 passengers were rescued, including British couple Edward and Charlotte Beckett who were newly married, two American tourists, three Nicaraguans, and 12 other Costa Ricans.
The ship, called Reina del Caribe, was travelling between the Corn Islands around 43 miles off the southeastern coast of Nicaragua on the Caribbean Sea, when it encountered some trouble. Strong winds stirred big waves that hit the boat.
“This is a great tragedy, truly painful, because they were our Costa Rican, Central American brothers and sisters who were vacationing in the waters of the Nicaraguan Caribbean,” government spokesperson Rosario Murillo told The Telegraph.
Meanwhile, the family of the British couple said they have already had contact with the two, who are expected to make their way to the Nicaraguan capital, Managua.
“We are mighty relieved and so sad for the other people who died. She’s doing good. They are hopefully in Managua now. We are in daily contact but don’t know when she will be home,” Martin Rainsford, the bride’s father said.
The Corn Islands are a popular tourist destination in the region.
Local authorities said that they have detained the boat owner and captain under suspicion of breaking the ban on ship operations during stormy weather.
Mario Berrios, the Nicaraguan Navy commander for the southern Caribbean region, said that the vessel had not been given permission to sail due to inclement weather condition.
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