Three die in boating tragedy

6 September 2004

ZARAGOZA – Three Bulgarians – two women and a man – died when a boat they were in overturned in a central Spanish reservoir, it was reported Monday.

The accident happened in the Ribarroja reservoir near the town of Mequinenza, in Zaragoza province, in eastern Spain, because the boat was overloaded. There were 13 people in the boat at the time.

The dead included a 36-year-old man and two women, both of whom were 34.

The trio all worked as agricultural labourers and had decided to go out in the boat with friends and relatives Sunday, authorities said.

Eyewitnesses told the Guardia Civil that the boat, which was powered by an outboard motor, was occupied by seven adults and six children, all Bulgarians.

The boat was captained by the husband of one of the deceased women.

It turned over about five metres (16 feet) from the shore in an area where the water is about 15 metres (49 feet) deep, the fire department said.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news