49 corpses recovered from the capsized boat in Samana

Some 49 dead and an unknown number missing are the latest figures resulting from the makeshift boat (yola) that capsized last Saturday in the Bay of Samana, regarded as one of the most dramatic accidents for years in the country. The boat was allegedly on route to Puerto Rico carrying Dominicans who hoped to leave their homeland in search of a better life. The tragedy has prompted mourning and pain for more than fifty families in Nagua, Samana and San Francisco de Macoris.

Reports say that since the initial survivors rescued on the day of the accident, no more have been found alive. That day they managed to rescue 13 people, three in Samaná and 10 in Sabana de la Mar. It is estimated that more than 60 people were on the boat.

Yesterday they recovered a further 22 bodies, 16 of them already identified by their families, while others were taken to the municipal cemetery "Cristo Redentor", located in the northern part of Sabana de la Mar, pending identification later today.

Another six bodies were found after 4: 00 p.m. yesterday, to total 22 bodies that have been recovered in a state of decomposition since the Navy authorities resumed the search yesterday morning. All the bodies found yesterday are men, who were examined and placed in plastic bags and coffins to be removed by relatives, who traveled from the northern part of the country to recover the bodies.

Santini Calderón Gaston, acting medic in the evaluation of the 22 bodies recovered, advised that the bodies be buried immediately to prevent spread of diseases such as cholera, dengue fever, tetanus or  any other bacteria that can contaminate those who touch them, due to the advanced state of decomposition.

The 16 who were recovered and identified yesterday are Carlos Manuel Mercado, aged 33, from the Duarte Province; Pedro Reyes, from San Francisco de Macorís; Juan de Dios Moscoso, 33 years-old, from Espaillat; Saury Marte González, from Villa Riva. Also José Luis Martínez, aged 20, from the Duarte Province; Emilio Hilario, aged 32, from Moca; Félix Antonio Tejada, aged 22 from Pimentel; Roger Lend, Jamaican, 32 years; Jorge Luis Paulino Gomez, 24, from the Duarte Province; Braulio Romero Campos, 55 years, from María Trinidad Sánchez; Álvaro Luis Castro, 25, from San Francisco; Francis Rafael Lora Rosario, 24, also from San Francisco, Melvin Radhamés Hernández, aged 21, from the Duarte Province; César Flores, 33 years, from San Francisco de Macoris, and Deibi Rafael Reyes, 19 years old, originally from Villa Vasquez.

Many of the corpses were transported by sea to Samaná to shorten the route, and the families received the backing of the Navy, which is providing free fuel for fishermen, in order to lower the cost of transport. Due to demand, face masks were sold out in pharmacies, hospitals and clinics, because all the people ran to the beach and wanted to cover their noses against the stench from the decomposing bodies.

Still missing are Héctor Eduardo de Jesus Reyes, aged 28, and his brother Pedro Luis de Jesus Reyes, 36, according to their father, Eduardo de Jesus, who in the midst of sobbing requested authorities and fishermen present on the beach of Sabana de la Mar, to find them even if they are dead. "If I come to San Francisco de Macoris without my boys, my wife will kill me, because for her they are alive", said the troubled man short of breath.

Also missing is Juan Gabriel González (Tony), aged 24, from Nagua, and Maria Altagracia Almánzar, 28, a native of San Francisco de Macoris, and others not specified.

The search will be resumed at 5: 00 in the morning, said Héctor Méndez, regional head of the Navy, who is in charge of operations. In Sabana there remain seven ambulances on hand for any eventuality. 

The Navy say they have sent three light Navy boats and seven fishermans' boats to help the search, for which they are providing the fuel.

They also explained that the points where the search is being focused in are Los Cayos de Samaná, the Bay of San Lorenzo and the coastline from Sabana de la Mar to Miches.

Meanwhile dozens of families remain on the coast of Sabana de la Mar and on the Samaná Pier waiting for information regarding the other 13 people still missing.

2 related news articles

Two more bodies found puts the total to 54 dead from the Samana shipwreck: Feb 11 2012

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