Tragedy in the Amazon: at least 12 dead and over 30 missing after the collapse of a bank of the Ucayali river (due to erosion)

Crolla sponda fiume Ucayali

In the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, a new tragedy has shaken the indigenous communities living along the great Ucayali river. A sudden collapse of the shore in the river port of Iparia caused a violent wave that overturned two boats full of passengers. The provisional toll is dramatic: at least 12 dead, including three children, around 25 injured and over 30 missing, a number still uncertain as many of the passengers were not registered.

The accident occurred at dawn, when a section of the bank gave way without warning, generating an anomalous wave that hit the Rápido Oriente and Deo Rigo boats. Many passengers, belonging to indigenous populations in the area, did not have time to react. The images spread on social media show desperate scenes: people in the water trying to save themselves, relatives shouting the names of family members and remains of personal objects dragged by the current.

Difficult searches among currents and vortices

The Peruvian navy teams are still engaged in the search, made complex by the typical remolinos, the vortices generated by the strong currents of the flood season. The reduced visibility and the speed of the water hinder rescuers, while the local population, gathered along the shore, collaborates to identify the victims and report the missing.

An increasingly fragile region due to erosion

According to the National Center for Emergency Operations (COEN), the failure was caused by the progressive erosion of the shore, a phenomenon that has become more frequent and violent in recent years. Changes in river levels, exacerbated by climate change, are accelerating the attrition of the banks. The Amazon, already under pressure from deforestation, mining and the climate crisis, is thus seeing the vulnerability of its natural infrastructure increase. The Iparia disaster is not an isolated case. In recent years, serious accidents related to submerged logs, sudden vortices and land subsidence have occurred on the Ucayali itself and on other tributaries. Indigenous communities, who depend exclusively on river boats to travel, are unfortunately the most exposed.

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Chris Rivers

Chris Rivers

With over 15 years of experience in journalism and a deep-seated passion for environmental sustainability, I lead the editorial team at Green Technology Investments. My background in environmental science fuels my commitment to crafting insightful and impactful content. When I'm not penning articles, you can find me exploring national parks or tending to my organic garden.