At least 12 people, including three children, were killed on Monday when a landslide struck two boats docked at a river port in central Peru’s Amazon rainforest, with dozens more still missing as emergency crews battle harsh conditions to find survivors.

The landslide hit at dawn along the Ucayali River, submerging a ferry and severely damaging another passenger vessel carrying teachers, doctors, families and community members.

Boats struck as passengers prepared to disembark

The disaster occurred around 5am local time (10:00 GMT) as passengers were preparing to disembark at Iparia, in the Ucayali region. Local and national media reported that one of the boats had departed Pucallpa on Sunday and was traveling toward the riverside communities of Caco Macaya, Curiaca del Caco, and Pueblo Nuevo del Caco.

According to a police report cited by the Andina news agency, the landslide completely sank one vessel and severely damaged the second. Early footage from UTV Noticias showed distraught people running along the riverbank as belongings and merchandise floated downstream.

Authorities say the exact number of passengers remains unclear, but Peru’s National Emergency Operations Center (COEN) reported that about 50 people were on board one of the boats, with none on the second. Some reports, including from AFP, suggest the missing could number around 40, though others estimate as many as 50.

Dangerous river conditions

Rescuers from the Peruvian police and Navy were dispatched immediately, but recovery operations have been slowed by severe environmental challenges.

Navy captain Jonathan Novoa told AFP that the team has recovered nine bodies so far, while 25 people have been injured and dozens remain unaccounted for. He described the conditions as extremely dangerous.

“We are in the flood season… and at the time of the accident there was fog, and the tasks are complicated,” Novoa said. Rapid currents, whirlpools, and shifting weather have slowed search efforts.

Local health authorities later confirmed at least 20 people injured, with two still unaccounted for. Helicopters have been deployed to support ground teams as the search widens.

Cause of landslide, response from authorities

COEN said on X that the tragedy was caused by the erosion of the riverbank at the Ucayali River — one of the main headwaters of the Amazon. Peru’s Amazon region is prone to such hazards, especially during periods of heavy rainfall and river swelling.

Authorities are working closely with families gathered at the scene to verify the passenger list and determine how many people still need to be located.

More than half of Peru is covered by dense Amazonian forest, which often complicates rescue operations due to remote terrain and limited accessibility.

Among those aboard were children, teachers, and doctors, according to Reuters citing Andina. One of the boats had been transporting people from a nearby Indigenous community and had stopped in Iparia for passengers to disembark when the landslide struck.

The tragedy has deeply shaken the remote river communities that rely heavily on boat travel for access to healthcare, education, and essential supplies.