The Reina del Caribe, or “Caribbean Queen” translated from Spanish, was carrying more than 30 people in the rain and strong winds when it capsized between the Corn Islands, a popular destination for tourists, ABC News reported.
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The pair’s names were included on a list of survivors from five countries including the United Kingdom, U.S. and Brazil published by authorities, and a family member said of the newly-married pair, “they’re OK”.
The Nicaraguan navy’s commander for the southern Caribbean region, Mario Berrios, said the boat’s captain and owner had been detained because the vessel had not been permitted to sail due to the weather conditions.
Berrios said that of the 32 passengers on the boat, 25 were Costa Ricans, four were Americans and three were Nicaraguans.
Despite weather warnings from the coastguard the boat still set off for Little Corn Island just east of Nicaragua.
He added that most of the 13 dead were women.
Government spokeswoman Rosario Murillo El 19 Digital the incident had been “a great tragedy”.
Media reports said the captain, who was also owner of the vessel, was arrested after being rescued, as authorities began an investigation.
‘President Daniel Ortega has instructed the head of the Army, Julio Cesar Aviles, to make sure this sort of thing doesn’t happen again.
A Foreign Office spokesman said it was providing consular assistance to the Britons.
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Foreign tourists who survived when their ship capsized off an idyllic Caribbean island were flown to mainland Nicaragua on Sunday (Jan 24) with the bodies of fellow passengers killed in the accident.
