12 dead, 30 missing after riverbank collapse sinks Peruvian boats

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - At least 12 people died and 30 remain missing after a riverbank collapse caused two passenger transport boats to capsize on the Ucayali River in the Peruvian Amazon on Monday, authorities said.

The accident occurred in the early hours of the morning near the port of Iparia, a remote location situated more than a day's sail from Pucallpa, the capital of the Ucayali region.

A massive block of earth eroded from the riverbank, falling into the water and generating strong, destabilizing currents, according to Peru's Defense Emergency Operations Center (COEN).

The two boats were docked at the time of the collapse. The COEN reported that one vessel was empty, but the other was carrying approximately 50 people.

Images shared on social media show people clinging to pieces of wood to avoid drowning.

Rescue teams confirmed that three minors were among the fatalities. Authorities reported that among the fatalities were essential workers, including doctors and teachers.

Search operations are underway with support requested from the Peruvian Navy to locate the missing persons.

The incident was officially reported as a result of riverbank erosion, a recurring issue in the region, which is now entering its rainy season.

The Ucayali region, where the disaster took place, is a vast, jungle territory bordered by Loreto to the north and Brazil to the east. While landslides are less common than flooding, riverbank erosion remains a persistent hazard for communities relying on the major waterway.