Nine dead, 28 missing from Colombian ferry disaster

At least nine people have died and 28 been missing after a tourist ferry sank with some 170 people on board in a reservoir close to Colombia’s city of Medellin.

According to Colombian officials, a large rescue effort has been launched by Colombia's air force and local firefighters in an attempt to find and save any survivors from the four-story El Almirante boat which sank on Sunday.

In various footage which has spread online via social media, the turquoise and yellow boat can be seen rocking in the water before it sinks. A large number of other recreational craft can also be seen rushing to the scene to save people.

"Those on the first and second floors sank immediately…The boat was sinking and all we could do was scream and call for help," said a survivor.

Based on initial reports, 99 people were rescued while some 40 other managed to reach the shore by their own means.

It is not yet clear why the ship sank.

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