The Coppename River and bridge. Photo: Wikipedia
By Ivan Cairo
Caribbean News Now contributor
PARAMARIBO, Suriname — Seven people were killed during a boat accident last Friday morning on the Coppename River, authorities in Suriname confirmed. The fatalities could increase since a woman and two children are still missing.
According to survivors, there were about 30 people in the vessel, including a number of children. They were residents from the indigenous village Corneliskondre. The party had left the village around midnight with the fishing village Boskamp as final destination. Around 2 o’clock in the morning, fate struck near Kalebaskreek, another indigenous village.
Survivors said that at some point the water was entering the boat because of high waves and the passengers got panicked and moved to one side of the vessel. They tried to get the water out of the boat with all their might, but to no avail. The boat disappeared into the depths and clutched together the victims bobbed briefly in the water. A big wave, however, tore them apart and several vanished in the depths of the river. Swimming and clinging to floating objects including cool boxes several victims managed to reach the shore safely.
