At Least 4 Dead After Tourist Boat Carrying 19 People Sinks Near Cancun, Captain Detained

The boat had been traveling to Puerto Juárez from Isla Mujeres when it caught a sea swell causing water to enter the boat

At least four people are dead after a tourist boat that was carrying 19 people sank near Cancun, according to the Associated Press.

The captain of the “Diosa del Mar” was detained, per the outlet.

The boat was traveling to Cancún from Isla Mujeres when it "wrecked in the bay between Isla Mujeres and Cancún, when returning to its place of origin," the Isla Mujeres City Council said in a press release. "We express our solidarity with the families of the victims and with the people who were rescued."

Isla Mujeres is a popular tourist island 3.5 miles from Cancún.

Related: 2 Men Rescued in Gulf of Mexico By Carnival Cruise Ship After Their Boat Sinks

Raciel Lopez Salazar, the Attorney General of Quintana Roo, told reporters Tuesday that there were 17 Mexican tourists and two crew members aboard the vessel, per NBC News.

Authorities are trying to determine whether the boat was overcrowded and if rough weather conditions played a role in the tragedy.

“We are analyzing the climatological conditions, the capacity of the boat and to see if the boat had the capacity to transport 19 people, and the condition of the equipment on the boat. There are people who are responsible for this, we have the captain detained,” Salazar said, per NBC News.

Salazar added that the captain, who has not been identified, "had some responsibility" in the deadly incident.

According to AP, many of the passengers were pulled out of the sea by the Mexican Navy and other agencies.

The rescue operation is still underway, therefore, identities have not been revealed nor have the conditions of those rescued.

PEOPLE has contacted the Mexican Navy for comment.

Related: 3 Kids Among 5 People Rescued After UTV Plunges Through Ice on Maine Pond

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