Search resumes for men missing in yacht drama

10 January 2005

AMSTERDAM — Efforts have resumed to locate two men suspected of having drowned after their motor yacht sunk in the Maas River near Maastricht on Sunday. Six others survived the accident.

The yacht fell 7m over a dam in the river and broke up into several pieces. Two women and four children were helped to safety by bystanders and were treated in the Maastricht academic hospital for hypothermia. They are considered to be in reasonable health.

The accident occurred at Borgharen at about 5pm on Sunday, but darkness, chilly weather and the fast flow of the river forced emergency services to call off the search at about 11pm. Police had earlier called in a helicopter with infrared cameras in a bid to locate the two men.

Fire brigade officers and police were scheduled to resume the search at 10am on Monday. The search will take place both at the site of the accident and further downstream. It is possible that the bodies of the men will be found in the wreck of the yacht, which is yet to be located.

The accident occurred as the yacht was en route from the Pietersplas at Maastricht to Itteren. It suffered motor problems, resulting in a loss of steering and the yacht falling 7m over a low dam in the river.

The two families on board the yacht were all from the Maastricht region, police said.

Subject: Dutch news