Death toll in Katukurunda boat tragedy rises to 15
February 22, 2017 09:55 pm
Another body of a woman who died in the tragic boat accident in Katukurunda, washed ashore in the Beruwala beach today, bringing the total death toll to 15.
Police said that the deceased is a 23-year-old woman, who was among the persons missing since the boat capsized on Sunday.
Earlier, police said the bodies of a 25-year-old male and a seven-year-old child were found on Wednesday as search operations continued by the Sri Lanka Navy.
Several Navy boats and divers have been deployed in the search operations since Sunday.
The Navy said the overloaded boat had been a fishing trawler and had not followed the safety regulations as its passengers had not worn life jackets.
Since Sunday 32 passengers were rescued by rescue teams and they were receiving treatment at two local hospitals.
The government has said that it would pay compensation to the victims of the disaster and to those injured while the Fisheries Ministry has imposed a new regulation banning fishing boats from being used to transport passengers.
