Four Mexican tourists were killed when a boat carrying 19 people capsized near Cancun late Monday.
The captain of the Diosa del Mar was also detained. Officials have not disclosed the type of boat.
The ship was headed from Isla Mujeres to Cancun with 17 passengers and two crew members on board, but “while returning to its original location, it wrecked in the bay between Isla Mujeres and Cancun,” Isla Mujeres said. The city council made the announcement in a press release. .
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People walking on Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico. On Monday, four tourists were killed when their boat capsized near the island. (Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images)
“We express our solidarity with the families of the victims and those who were rescued,” the council said.
Most of the passengers were rescued by the Mexican Navy, local police and civil defense agencies. Some people were taken to the hospital.
All were Mexican nationals. Authorities were investigating whether the boat was overcrowded. The passengers had gone to a restaurant on the island and were on their way back to mainland Mexico when the incident occurred.
“We are analyzing the weather conditions and the capabilities of the boat and whether it had the capacity to carry 19 people,” state Attorney General Raciel Lopez said.
Gaviota Azul Beach in Cancun, Mexico. (AP Photo/Israel Real/File)
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Similar boating accidents have occurred in the past, as the Cancun region is popular with tourists.
In 2022, two American divers died after being run over by a diving boat. In 2018, a crude bomb exploded on a passenger ferry in the resort town of Playa del Carmen further down the coast, injuring 20 tourists.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
