Two dead after Peruvian navy ship hits oil platform in Amazon River 2 days ago Share Save Ian Aikman BBC News Leonardo

2 days ago

Ian Aikman
BBC News
Leonardo Rocha
BBC Americas Region Editor



The collision occurred where the Napo River flows into the Amazon (file photo)


A Peruvian navy vessel has collided with an oil platform in the Amazon River, killing at least two people and leaving one missing. The collision happened in the early hours of Friday morning at the junction of the Napo and Amazon rivers, causing "severe damage", Peru's defence ministry said.

Thirty crew members were rescued from the vessel, with specialised diving teams and helicopters deployed as part of the search operation, the statement added.

Anglo-French company Perenco, which owns the platform, said that the vessel had collided with the bow chain of the empty storage vessel. The Peruvian defence ministry said it was investigating the cause of the collision.

"Peru's Navy deeply regrets the irreparable loss of our crew members," the defence ministry said, adding that it would provide assistance to their loved ones.

The ministry said the vessel, called Ucayali, hit the platform while it was navigating near the mouth of the Napo River in northern Peru.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Perenco told the BBC that "at approximately 1.30am the Peruvian Navy's BAP Ucayali collided with the bow chain of the AF Manatí, an empty Perenco storage vessel at permanent anchor".

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