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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() - Photo via Red Cross -
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Published on
Thursday, October 5, 2023
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Three individuals were hurt after a whale struck their boat at Jimenez Port in Osa Peninsula, Puntarenas Province's southern zone.
According to the Red Cross, an emergency call was received on Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. regarding a group of people who had sustained injuries to their heads and bodies after a whale crashed with the boat in which they were traveling.
The incident occurred on a routine voyage by boat from Golfito Port to Jimenez Port for a party of 12 individuals.
"The captain surnamed Valverde said that shortly after setting sail from Golfito Port, the boat collided with a whale while crossing the sea towards Jimenez Port," stated the Red Cross accident monitoring department.
The boat shook violently as a consequence of the accident, numerous windows were smashed, and part of the bow was twisted. Three passengers were injured: an 82-year-old woman and two males, ages 25 and 31.
The passengers' surnames and nationalities were not disclosed by authorities.
"The captain reported that he found a segment of the whale's skin caught in part of the bow of the boat," the Red Cross added.
When the boat arrived at Jimenez Port, two ambulances from the local Red Cross station treated the injured and then transferred them to the local public clinic in stable condition.
According to the Tourism Institute, the southern Pacific Coast is a popular humpback whale resting area. The whale-watching season runs from December to mid-March, and then again from July to October.
Adult whales may grow to be 40 to 60 feet long and weigh up to 40 metric tons (44 short tons). The humpback's body is unusual, with large pectoral fins and tubercles on its skull. It is well-known for breaching and other unusual surface activities, which make it a favorite among whale watchers.
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