Three Indian tourists died this Friday in a rafting accident on the Las Vueltas River near the town of El Chaltén in Santa Cruz Province, Patagonia. A raft overturned during the excursion, and 15 other people were rescued and reported safe.
According to statements from the Police of Santa Cruz shared with EFE, the deceased are two men aged 67, identified as Dipak Patel and Jagdishbhai Patel, and a 66-year-old woman named Vibhuti Patel, all victims of the incident described as a raft overturn.
The Government of Santa Cruz reported that the incident involved 18 people on a vessel operated by Comarka Expediciones; 15 were rescued in good health, while three people lost their lives despite the rapid action of emergency services.
In the response, personnel from the Santa Cruz Police, Fire Department, Civil Protection, the Gendarmería Nacional, and the Prefectura Naval joined forces to conduct rescue and search operations along a stretch of the Las Vueltas River near Route 40.
Authorities continue to coordinate the investigation and response as more details emerge about the events on the river and the safety measures for adventure tours in the region.
Source: Government of Santa Cruz via EFE.