Mexico City - At least 40 people died when two overcrowded boats carrying Central American immigrants collided off the Pacific coast of southern Mexico, civil protection officials said yesterday. Mr Julio Cesar Antunes, director of Civil Protection for the town of Tonala in southern Chiapas state said the Mexican Navy had gone to the rescue of the two vessels, which collided around 12.00 noon (1700 GMT) "because of the strong waves".
The bodies of 40 people were recovered, he said, adding that the number of survivors was as yet unknown.