It has not been confirmed that the body found is that of one of the seven passengers who are still missing.
The Amazonas Military Fire Department (CBMAM) found, this Monday (16), the body of a person during the search for the seven missing in the wreck of the Lima de Abreu XV boat. It has not been confirmed, however, whether the body found is that of one of the seven missing passengers.
According to CBMAM, the body was located in the Amazon River and is being taken to the corporation’s river base, in the Port of Manaus, and will be sent to the Legal Medical Institute (IML).
Last Saturday (14) the Government of São Paulo sent a team from the Maritime Fire Brigade (GBMar) to provide specialized technical support in underwater searches for victims of the sinking of the vessel Lima de Abreu XV, which was carrying 80 passengers. The accident occurred in the region where the waters of the Negro and Solimões rivers meet, in the municipality of Manaus (AM), on Friday afternoon (13), in the region of Meeting of the Waters on the route between Manaus and Nova Olinda do Norte, in Amazonas.
According to the Amazonas Military Fire Department, 71 people were rescued alive. Of the other 9 people, according to the report from the Legal Medical Institute (IML), at least two died – a 3-year-old child and the young Lara Bianca, 22 years old – until confirmation, 7 are still missing.
Developments of the accident
The company Lima de Abreu Navegações stated in a statement, on the day of the tragedy, that the boat’s conditions were within normal limits. “The vessel was in good standing, with valid documentation, up-to-date inspections and operating in accordance with navigation standards,” he explained.
José Pedro da Silva Gama, 42 years old, was the boat’s commander and was arrested red-handed in the port of Manaus, where he was found with other survivors. However, after paying bail, he was released and will be charged with manslaughter. The court requested preventive arrest of the pilot on Saturday (14).
Videos that were published on social media show victims adrift wearing life jackets and on top of boats as they wait for rescue. One of the passengers made a recording moments after the sinking, while still adrift. In the footage she states that she asked the driver to take it more calmly. “I told the boy to slow downwhich was no joke”, says the passenger in the just seven-second video.
