A two-boat collision in the Mazaruni River followed by an ensuing fire has left a Brazilian woman dead.
The woman, identified by police as Jifele Brasilaira Vierra De Sales-Lie Akigia, 31, was killed yesterday when the wooden passenger/cargo boat she was travelling in collided with an aluminum hull passenger vessel around 1pm in the vicinity of an area known as All-Boys.
A fire ensured and quickly engulfed the wooden boat, leaving Akigia with extensive burns.
The Brazilian national subsequently fell overboard and disappeared under the water, a police press release said.
A search was launched to locate the woman’s body and, about two hours later, it was discovered and taken to the Bartica Hospital. She was pronounced dead on arrival (DOA).
Investigations have revealed that the boats were captained by Eugene Charles, 58, of Parika East Bank Essequibo (EBE) and Clifton Meville, 19, of Fifth Avenue, Bartica.
Investigations are in progress, the police said.
The Maritime Adminis-tration Department (MARAD) yesterday announced that it had sent a team to the Mazaruni area to commence an investigation into the collision.
