Tourist Speedboat Capsizes: Overloading Results In Two Drownings Off Cartagena Coast Colombia

Cartagena, Colombia—At least two foreign tourists drowned on Saturday afternoon when a privately operated speedboat capsized in choppy waters just off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia, an incident immediately blamed on severe overloading and negligence.

The small, open-hulled vessel was transporting a group of 20 vacationers—significantly exceeding its licensed passenger capacity of 12—from the Cartagena mainland toward the popular beaches of Isla Grande in the Rosario Islands archipelago.

Witnesses reported that the heavily laden boat encountered moderate waves near the Bocagrande entrance, causing water to swamp the stern. The unstable vessel rapidly lost balance and flipped over, throwing all passengers and two crew members into the open Caribbean Sea.

While most passengers managed to stay afloat until rescue arrived, two tourists—an older woman and a young man, both believed to be from the United States—became trapped underneath the canopy and drowned before lifeguards from nearby beaches could reach them.

Marine units from the Colombian Navy and local maritime authority (Dimar) launched an emergency operation, rescuing 18 survivors and recovering the two bodies. The rescued individuals were transported to hospitals in Cartagena for treatment of shock, minor injuries, and saltwater inhalation.

Survivors recounted scenes of panic, stating that few life jackets were available on board and the vessel’s captain failed to heed weather warnings before departure. The tragedy has severely impacted the reputation of Cartagena’s unregulated maritime tourism sector during a peak holiday period.

Investigators from the Attorney General’s Office have detained the boat captain and are preparing charges of gross negligence and violation of navigation safety protocols. The vessel lacked required safety certification and communication equipment.

The incident has triggered a sweeping government crackdown on unauthorized boat excursions departing from Cartagena’s docks. The bodies of the victims are being held at the local morgue pending repatriation arrangements.