All six bodies recovered after Chilean fish farming boat tragedy
Published
The bodies of six crew members who died when a salmon farming service vessel sank in Chile earlier this week have all now been recovered, Fish Farming Expert’s Chilean sister site, Salmonexpert.cl, reports.
The men died when the Koñimo 1 sank at its moorings 70 metres from shore in the Reloncaví Estuary, Los Lagos region, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Two of the vessels eight crew were able to swim to shore but the remaining six died. The bodies of three of the men were recovered on Tuesday, and three more yesterday.
No official cause
To date, no official cause has been established for the sinking of the Koñimo 1, which had been carrying out infrastructure maintenance for salmon farmer Salmones Austral.
Chile’s Maritime Authority and the Public Prosecutor's Office say that investigations are ongoing, pending technical reports and inquiries by the Navy and the Investigative Police (PDI).
Preliminary reports indicate that the catamaran-type vessel had valid permits and that the accident was not caused by adverse weather conditions. Other accounts from those close to the victims - such as a possible sudden influx of water while the crew was resting - have not been officially confirmed and are among the lines of inquiry being pursued.
