Duck Boat Struck By Barge

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PHILADELPHIA (GaeaTimes.com)- A Philadelphia tourist duck boat was struck by a barge in the Delaware River on Wednesday hurling all the 37 persons present on board into the water with the whereabouts of two of them still unknown. According to Coast Guard officials, ten of the persons who have been rescued were immediately shifted to a nearby hospital after suffering minor injuries where preliminary treatment was administered to them. In the meantime, a thorough search operation was launched soon after the accident to locate the two missing persons but any results in this regard has not been forthcoming as yet.

Lieutenant Frank Vanore, who is an official of the Philadelphia Police Department has revealed that the duck boat remained immobile on the Delaware River after a fire broke out on board which disabled its engine and ultimately resulted in the boat coming in the way of the barge. Meanwhile, officials of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have arrived at Philadelphia to ascertain the causes which led to the accident and are likely to look into all aspects of the circumstances that resulted in the barge hitting the duck boat and then capsizing it. The NTSB is also likely to hold 72-history to determine the emotional as well as mental condition of the crew of the duck boat.

Coast Guard officials have divulged that the search efforts to find the two missing 16-year-old girl and the 20-year-old man from the duck boat continued throughout Wednesday night and was again initiated on Thursday morning but to no avail. Coast guard Captain Todd Gatlin stated that officials are continuing the search operation extensively although hopes of finding both them alive is gradually fading.