UPDATED: 3 children dead after boat capsizes

PUNTARENAS, COSTA RICA – October 16th, 2012 –  Three children ranging in age from 6 to 8 years old have died after the boat they were aboard for a fishing trip capsized near the mouth of the Rio Damas and the Pacific Ocean in Puntarenas.

Deputy Security Minister, Celso Gamboa said that powerful currents may have been to blame.  Five adults and four children were aboard, none of whom were wearing lifejackets, according to Gamboa.

The Coast Guard was able to rescue one of the children.  Authorities confirm that the bodies of the other three children have been recovered.

The adults and the surviving child were taken to the hospital in Quepos.  Their conditions and nationalities are unknown at this time.

UPDATE: An Inside Costa Rica reporter was able to speak directly with an official from the hospital in Quepos.  According to the official, the 3 fatalities, all children, were transported directly to the morgue and were dead at the scene.  The official said that either there was not a fourth child, (as reported in the original wire service report) or the fourth child was never admitted to the hospital.  The surviving adult passengers, described as the mothers of the children, were seen by medical staff, suffering from panic and distress, but had no serious injuries and were released shortly after being admitted.  All of the victims and survivors were Costa Ricans.  

Initially based on a report from the EFE wire service.