A boat with nearly 100 tourists aboard has capsized off the Costa Rica coast, killing three people.
A 100-feet catamaran, the Pura Vida Princess was carrying 98 passengers and a crew of 10 when it sank about 9 miles off the central Pacific Coast.
It was on a pleasure cruise to the popular vacation spot of Tortuga Island when it was overcome by strong waves, according to some of the rescued passengers.
"The wind tipped the boat and water began to come in. People moved to the other side to balance the weight, but it didn’t work and the boat sank in minutes," said US tourist Arcelio Garcia.
Firefighters Corps director Hector Chavez said initial reports of an explosion aboard were unfounded.
Costan Rican Vice President said: "We want to extend our condolences to the victims’ families."
The three dead were named as Edna Oliver, a 68 year-old US woman, Ivor Stanley Hopkins, an 80-year old British man, and Sharon Johnson, a 70-year-old Canadian woman.
The country had been buffeted by storm force winds and the National Meteorological Institute had issued a severe weather warning, although the boat had authorization to sail.
