18 dead in Brazil boat accident, 2nd fatal sinking this week
RIO DE JANEIRO — A commuter boat carrying more than 100 passengers flipped and sank Thursday in northeast Brazil, killing at least 18 people and leaving dozens missing in rough ocean waters.
It was the second fatal accident involving passenger boats this week in the South American nation, where aquatic travel of all kinds is common.
Navy Lt. Col. Flavio Almeida told The Associated Press that the vessel went down in the morning while traversing the Bay of All Saints off the coast of the city of Salvador.
Twenty-one people were rescued by naval teams, and private boats also motored in and helped an unknown number of survivors.