Two dead, one missing after vessels collide in Biobío, Chile

A collision between two vessels in the Biobío region of central Chile has left two people dead while a third individual has gone missing.

The incident occurred off Biobío’s Yani Cove at around 17:45 local time on Friday, January 31, when the fishing boat Pam Bonn struck the motor launch Alcamar 1, causing the latter vessel to sink almost immediately.

Responding search and rescue (SAR) teams from various local agencies were able to recover the body of one of the launch’s occupants, who has been identified as a 54-year-old adult male. A second victim who was initially reported as missing was found lifeless the following day in the waters near where the sinking occurred.

Local authorities have not yet found any trace of a third individual who was also on the launch at the time of the collision.

Three other occupants of the launch suffered varying degrees of injury from the incident but were safely rescued.

Pam Bonn has since docked at the Port of San Vicente as vessels of the Chilean Navy and the Biobío Regional Directorate of Fisheries continue the search for the lone missing individual.