Colombian Caribbean on alert: Two men survive 12 hours at sea after shipwreck; two others remain missing

A dramatic shipwreck in the Colombian Caribbean, near Tintipán Island, has maritime authorities on high alert. Two men survived after drifting for nearly 12 hours, while two others remain missing and are being intensively searched for by the Colombian Navy.

The emergency occurred approximately seven nautical miles from Tintipán Island when a small boat carrying drinking water, which had departed from Cartagena bound for Múcura Island, sank, presumably due to adverse weather and sea conditions.

According to Michaelis Alfredo Sarmiento Morelo, the boat’s captain and one of the survivors, the vessel set sail at 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday from the Presermar dock. Hours later, around 4:00 a.m., strong waves are believed to have caused it to sink.

In the midst of the emergency, two of the four crew members tried to find life jackets, but were unable to surface. Authorities presume they may be trapped inside the vessel.
Michaelis Sarmiento and Manuel Hurtado Barrios managed to stay alive by clinging to a lifebuoy and four fuel tanks. For nearly 12 hours, they faced the sun, exhaustion, and heavy surf until they reached Isla Corona, where they were rescued by local residents.
After being alerted, the Cartagena Coast Guard Station deployed a Rapid Reaction Unit that rescued the survivors and transported them to Cartagena for medical attention at the Naval Hospital.
Meanwhile, the Coveñas Coast Guard Station continues to lead a search and rescue operation to locate the two missing men. The Colombian Navy also requested the support of fishermen and mariners in the area to report any information via the 146 hotline or VHF Marine Channel 16. Authorities reiterated their call to those sailing in the Colombian Caribbean to check weather and sea conditions and verify the condition of vessels and their safety equipment before setting sail, in order to avoid further emergencies.