9 dead in Colombia boat capsize

Nine persons have died and more than 30 are missing after a tourist boat carrying 150 people sank in a Colombian reservoir, authorities said.

Rescuers are combing the waters, said authorities in Antioquia, where the incident took place, CNN reported.

The head of the Antioquia's Disaster Prevention Department told reporters that at least 100 people have been rescued. Twenty one of them were injured, police said.

The boat sank on Sunday near the popular tourist town of Guatape, roughly 45 km east of Medellin, one of Colombia's biggest cities.

Video on social media showed the multi-tiered tour boat tilt on to one side before the lower deck submerged.

There were no life vests on board the tourist vessel, CNN quoted a survivor as saying.

A Colombian Air Force helicopter was deployed to help with the rescue operation.

--IANS

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