Peru landslide sinks boats in Amazon region river, killing 12

LIMA, Dec 1 (Reuters) - At least 12 people have died and 20 more were left injured after a landslide in Peru's Amazon region sunk two boats on the Ucayali river, local health authorities said on Monday.

Two people remain missing, local health agency Diresa Ucayali said on social media, following the landslide that struck around 4:20 a.m. (0900 GMT) in a port area of Iparia, located some 415 km (258 miles)north-east of Peru's capital, hitting two boats that were on their way to other towns on the riverside.

State news agency Andina said national police and navy units had been dispatched by helicopters to help the rescue efforts.

One boat, Rapido Oriente, was completely submerged, while another, the Deo Rigo, suffered serious damages, Andina reported.

The Deo Rigo was traveling from a nearby indigenous community and had stopped in Iparia so passengers could disembark when the landslide happened, it added.

Teachers and doctors were among the passengers, Andina said.

(Reporting by Marco Aquino and Sarah Morland; Editing by Natalia Siniawski)

---

Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!

---

You May Also Be Interested In

• Oil prices set to end week over $100 for first time in nearly 4 months
• Brazil's Lula says he supports discussion setting terms for Supreme Court justices
• First US horse case of screwworm detected in Texas border county