PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Search teams have recovered two more bodies, bringing the number of people confirmed dead to four following last Sunday’s boating accident off the north-western peninsula in Trinidad.

Authorities said two more people remain unaccounted for and that the search and rescue operation is continuing.

Police said that the body of 17-year-old Kayana Seachan had been recovered after a body had been discovered earlier by search parties on Friday.

Police had named the missing individuals as Anil Ahyee, Keiyana Seechan, Ameer Mohammed, 18; Lorenzo Oliver, 35; Titus Augustine, 25; and Jaheem Richards, 25.Now the authorities say they are still searching for Mohammed and Oliver.

Head of the Hunter’s Search and Rescue Team, Captain Valens Rambarat, told reporters Friday that the bodies had been found by the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard.

He said that the discovery of the bodies “will bring closure”.

Earlier, in a brief statement, the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG) said that it wanted to assure the public that “search and rescue operations remain ongoing with every effort being made to locate the individuals who remain unaccounted for”.

According to preliminary police reports, the collision involved a 28-foot Bowen pleasure craft named BAMBALEO and a 29-foot Chantelle vessel named BELBAGAI.

The police said that the BAMBALEO was travelling in an easterly direction when it collided with the BELBAGAI, which was heading west and that the impact caused extensive damage to both vessels and sent several passengers into the sea.

The BELBAGAI subsequently sank, and the police said nine people from that vessel were brought ashore, while six others required medical attention.

A police spokesman said that the BAMBALEO was carrying 18 people, while the BELBAGAI had 19 people aboard when the vessels collided. He confirmed that all 18 people aboard the BAMBALEO were reported safe.

On Wednesday, Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro said he wanted to assure the families and the general public “that the investigation is being undertaken and will be thorough and will examine all the evidence which we obtained.

“With that in mind, I’m asking all persons who have any information as it relates to this horrible accident to come forward.”

“I also want to urge the public to allow the respective agencies to do their jobs and allow the fact-finding process to take its course,” he said, adding, “as this matter is currently an active investigation, I will not be divulging any further details as it relates to the investigation,
Guevarro said.