Sand Barge and Tugboat Collide on Parana River, 7 Crewmen Reported Dead

Over the weekend, a sand barge sank following a collision with a Paraguayan-flagged tugboat on the Parana River. Search and rescue teams have now recovered bodies of six of the seven crewmen that were killed aboard the barge.

The bodies found include the captain of the Argentine barge Rio Turbio, along with the first mate, the helmsman, an engine-room officer, a boatswain and a seaman. Coast guard authorities and marine patrol units are still searching for the last missing mariner. The Rio Turbio is still capsized.

According to Fox News, the coast guard has detained the captain, helmsman and an officer in charge of maneuvers of the Ava Payagua tug that was sailing with 12 people aboard.

The coast guard, along with divers in the area managed to rescue one member of the Rio Turbio crew, who was slightly injured but has fully recovered.

Local reports allege that the Paraguayan tug lost control and crashed into the Argentine vessel that was carrying a full cargo and sank rapidly. A river workers union representative says the union wants to file a complaint against all Paraguayan ship owners because they do not seem to be navigating or operating under ideal conditions. River workers have been complaining for a while about the situation, and claim that accidents in the area almost always involve Paraguayan ships.

Argentine Security Minister Nilda Garre is reportedly supervising rescue operations and assistance for crew members of the capsized sand barge.