The death toll from the shipwreck in Pará has risen to 21.

247 - The Public Security Secretariat of Pará (Segup) confirmed that 21 bodies of victims of the shipwreck of the Capitão Ribeiro vessel, which occurred on the Xingu River in Pará on Tuesday night (22), have already been found. According to those responsible for the vessel, 48 people were on board at the time of the tragedy.

The ship sank on Tuesday night in an area known as the one between the municipalities of Porto de Moz and Senador José Porfírio. It was raining at the time of the disaster, and survivors reported that the boat was hit by a waterspout.

Learn more in the article from Agência Brasil.

Aécio Amado, reporter for Agência Brasil - Nine of the ten bodies recovered from the Capitão Ribeiro vessel, which sank on Tuesday night (22), in the Xingu River, between the cities of Porto de Moz and Senador José Porfírio, in the southwest of Pará, have already been released by the team from the Renato Chaves Scientific Expertise Center. The body of a man, known as Sebastião, the tenth victim, is still officially awaiting recognition by his family.

The teams continued searching for victims until late yesterday afternoon (23), and resumed early this morning (24). A barge and boats from the Porto Moz city hall, as well as boats from the Fire Department, are being used in the operation. The helicopter from the Public Security Air Group (Graesp) is supporting the actions in the search area.

According to the Fire Department and Civil Defense, the vessel - with a capacity for 90 to 100 passengers - was anchored near the riverbank with the support of a barge to facilitate the search for bodies.

The identification of the deceased is being carried out at the Chico Cruz municipal gymnasium by a team of eight professionals – including experts, a doctor, and assistants – from the Renato Chaves Scientific Expertise Center of Belém and Altamira. The vessel involved in the accident, which departed from Santarém, was headed for the city of Vitória do Xingu.

"We conducted interviews with family members in order to identify characteristics of the victims to aid in recognition. However, the release of the bodies is being expedited," said expert Felipe Sá, coordinator of the regional units of the Forensic Center.

The Fire Department and the state Civil Defense are coordinating search, rescue, and social assistance operations from the Porto de Moz City Hall, where a crisis center has been set up with the presence of state security forces, the municipal executive branch, and other agencies involved in the rescue operation for the shipwreck victims.

Investigation

The Civil Police have already heard from crew members and survivors. The owner of the vessel was heard yesterday morning (23) and reported that 48 people, including crew and passengers, were on board.

According to police chief Elcio de Deus, from Porto de Moz, many survivors said that the vessel was hit by a waterspout, a phenomenon similar to a tornado. "The crew said they saw something funnel-shaped on the horizon, accompanied by heavy rain and strong winds, which allegedly caught the boat by the stern and sank it. According to the accounts, the vessel spun around and then sank," the police chief reported.

The Civil Police should request information from the Agency for Regulation and Control of Public Services of the State of Pará (Arcon) and the Port Authority regarding the authorization granted to the owner of the vessel Capitão Ribeiro.