14 die, 26 missing after boat sinks off northern Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, September 9

At least 14 people died and 26 were missing after a boat sank on Thursday morning near the Brazilian city of Belem, capital of northern Para state, official sources reported.

The boat was travelling between Camara, on the island of Marajo, and Belem when it sank near Saudade Beach on the island of Cotijuba, Xinhua news agency reported.

The cause of the accident is yet to be determined.

According to the Public Security Secretariat (Segup), the vessel was not authorised to carry passengers and had headed out to sea from a clandestine port.

Firefighters launched a search-and-rescue operation with the help of divers, nine boats and a helicopter to retrieve the bodies and locate the missing victims. IANS