A Dutch tourist died after a sightseeing boat capsized during a Macuco Safari on the Iguazu River inside Brazil's Iguazu National Park. Eight people were aboard — six family members and two crew — and the victim was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. ICMBio confirmed the concessionaire's paperwork was in order and suspended Macuco Safari operations for three days while investigators probe river conditions, the vessel's condition and onboard maneuvers. Authorities noted recent heavy rainfall and a nearby tornado but have not linked weather to the capsize.
Dutch Tourist Killed After Macuco Safari Boat Capsizes at Iguazu Falls
A sightseeing boat capsized Tuesday during a Macuco Safari excursion on the Iguazu River inside Brazil's Iguazu National Park, prompting authorities to suspend the attraction's operations and begin an investigation. File Photo by Carlos Moreno/EPA
A Dutch tourist has died after a sightseeing boat capsized during a Macuco Safari excursion on the Iguazu River inside Brazil's Iguazu National Park, authorities said. Eight people were aboard the vessel: six Dutch tourists and two crew members.
Rescue teams responded immediately after the boat overturned. According to local outlet G1, citing the Paraná Fire Department, the victim drowned and suffered cardiac arrest. He was pulled from the water and taken to Padre Germano Lauck Municipal Hospital in Foz do Iguaçu, where doctors later pronounced him dead.
The six tourists were members of the same family; they had arrived in Foz do Iguaçu the day before and had planned to remain through Thursday. Three survivors did not require medical treatment, while two were hospitalized in stable condition. The pilot and co-pilot received medical attention and were later discharged.
Investigation and Operational Suspension
The Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), the federal agency that manages Brazil's protected areas, confirmed that the concessionaire Ilha do Sol had its operating documentation in order. ICMBio said it is cooperating with investigators and announced a three-day suspension of Macuco Safari operations beginning Wednesday to allow enquiries to proceed.
Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the capsize. Investigators, according to Ámbito, are examining multiple factors including river conditions at the time, the vessel's mechanical condition and the maneuvers performed during the excursion.
Weather and River Conditions
The accident followed several days of heavy rainfall across the Brazil–Argentina border region. Hours before the capsize, a tornado struck municipalities in northwestern Rio Grande do Sul state, near Argentina's Misiones province, injuring at least three people and causing significant damage, local reports said.
Argentina's National Meteorological Service had issued yellow and orange storm alerts for Misiones. Local media also reported that the Iguazu River's flow surged to nearly 2.64 million gallons per second, compared with a typical flow of about 396,000 gallons per second. Authorities stressed they have not yet determined whether the extreme weather or elevated river flow contributed to the accident.
ICMBio and local authorities continue to investigate and have not released a final report on the sequence of events that led to the vessel overturning.
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