This Good Friday, rescue teams from the Nicaraguan Army Naval Force found the bodies of Elvin José Ponce Picado, 45, and his daughter Brigitte Nicole Ponce Zapata, 16. Both died on the night of Wednesday, April 5, in the waters of Lake Cocibolca after being the victim of a shipwreck.
Both perished after the panga in which they were traveling with their family capsized in the Great Lake of Nicaragua. In the incident, Mercedes Zapata González, Ponce’s wife, also disappeared, so the troops continued the search and rescue efforts to find her body.
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The tragedy occurred when they were heading in the small means of transportation to visit relatives who live in Río San Juan. The incident occurred off the coast of the municipality of Morrito, Río San Juan, when the victims were heading to San Bernardo Island, which is located about 10 kilometers southwest of the port of said municipality.
Official media reported that the aquatic accident occurred between Morrito and San Bernardo Island, on the night of Holy Wednesday when they were traveling in the boat under the responsibility of 32-year-old Alex Rolando Rocha González.
Likewise, the rescuers managed to save Jafet Ponce Zapata, 14, the son of the couple who disappeared. Others rescued are originally from Morrito: Marina del Socorro Rocha, 87, Martín Ponce Rocha, 73; Justin David Ponce; 49 and the driver of the panga.
The couple lived with their two children in Managua and had moved with them to Morrito to enjoy the Easter holidays with their relatives. The victims resided in Colonia 14 de Septiembre.
