WILLEMSTAD – Two men lost their lives Thursday morning after the boat they were traveling in capsized in Santa Martha Bay, according to the Curaçao Police Force (KPC).
Police Central Dispatch received a report of the incident at approximately 9:08 a.m. on June 11. Officers from the Barber police station were immediately dispatched to the scene.
Upon arrival, officers learned that a short time earlier a small boat carrying two men had overturned in the bay. With assistance from a fishing vessel in the area, police were able to bring one of the victims to shore. Meanwhile, the boat began to sink.
At that stage, the second victim could not be located, prompting authorities to request assistance from the Coast Guard. A search operation was launched using both patrol boats and a helicopter.
After a brief search, Coast Guard personnel located the second victim. However, neither of the two men showed signs of life. The Coast Guard helicopter crew recovered the victim from the water and transported him to the Coast Guard base at Hato.
A police physician later officially confirmed the deaths of both victims.
The circumstances surrounding the boating accident remain under investigation. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims pending notification of their families.
Police and Coast Guard officials continue to investigate what caused the vessel to capsize in Santa Martha Bay.