A vessel capsized while loading trucks at Port-au-Prince’s Varreux Terminal, Haiti on Monday, killing 7 and injuring 17 people.
The ship owned by JP Haiti Trans, weighs 2401 tons and was constructed in 1970.
The vessel Maelys Lome II was carrying cargo between Grand Sud and Port-au-Prince. While loading, a truck’s poor maneuver caused the ship to tilt sideways, after which it tipped over.
Video footage circulating on social media showed that the ship overturned in water and many trucks and other objects were floating around.
Varreux Terminal authorities expressed their regret over the tragic incident and stated that plans were being made to repair the ship. Despite the incident, operations at the terminal were not compromised and continued as usual.
The terminal lies near the State University of Haiti Hospital which has faced challenges because of gang violence. The hospital was closed for a while but has reopened recently, giving rise to security concerns.