And while those deaths have been confirmed and the investigation must now be concluded to determine what went wrong, there is still uncertainty, and now great apprehension about the fates of 5 fishermen lost at sea since Thursday night.
At nine on Thursday night, the crew of 8 fishermen from Sarteneja was heading for Pampion Caye near the Ranguana Caye Range when the 25-foot skiff capsized after it was flooded by rough seas. Three of the men swam to Pampion Caye for safety; 3 others stayed on the boat, and the two others swam for another Caye. The three who swam from Pampion Caye made it and are still on the caye assisting in the search.
That search was greatly slowed this weekend as Tropical Storm Gamma passed over Southern Belize. It did resume on Sunday by air and sea as the storm passed, but still the 5 missing fishermen have not been found and are feared drowned.
The missing men are Juan Batun, Santiago Jimenez, Alfredo Pott, Francisco Villamil and a person identified only as Will. Anyone traveling in the area near Laughing Bird Caye, Pumpkin Caye and Water Caye is asked to please be on the lookout for these persons.
