Magdalena River Boat Collision: Two Fishermen Missing and One Injured Near Barranquilla Port

Barranquilla, Colombia—A heavy commercial vessel struck a small wooden fishing boat on the Magdalena River early Sunday, throwing three men into the current and leaving two fishermen missing. Coast Guard units rescued one survivor who suffered severe hypothermia and leg injuries. Emergency teams launched a search operation along the riverbanks downriver from the port zone.

The collision occurred near the main navigation channel as dark conditions limited visibility on the water. A larger tugboat allegedly clipped the smaller vessel, causing it to capsize and break apart immediately. Nearby night anglers heard cries for help and alerted maritime authorities.

Rescuers pulled the surviving fisherman from the water twenty minutes after the impact. Paramedics treated the man on the dock before transferring him to a regional hospital in Barranquilla. The survivor told port police that his two crewmates went underwater immediately when the hull shattered.

Coast Guard patrol boats deployed searchlights and sonar equipment to scan the river floor. Strong currents and heavy silt accumulation severely hampered underwater visibility for navy divers. Search perimeters extended six kilometers downriver toward the river mouth at Bocas de Ceniza.

Port officials temporarily restricted commercial vessel movements through the channel to facilitate search operations. Maritime investigators boarded the larger vessel involved in the incident to conduct structural checks and interview the crew. Investigators are examining navigation logs and radar entries to determine right-of-way compliance.

Family members gathered at the local fishing dock, watching rescue craft launch into the choppy water. Local fishermen volunteered their own motorboats to aid search efforts along the mangrove shoreline. Regional emergency services set up a mobile coordination hub on the riverbank.

Community leaders highlighted the lack of lighted navigational buoys along this stretch of the riverway. Small artisanal boats frequently operate alongside industrial cargo traffic without adequate safety gear or radar reflectors. Safety regulators face mounting criticism for lax enforcement of maritime night-travel rules.

Maritime authorities expanded the search grid as daylight faded, bringing in helicopter support to scan coastal mudflats. Rescuers plan to maintain surface patrols through the night if water conditions remain stable. Naval officers confirmed that search operations will continue until both missing men are located.