Thirty people, including children, were rescued from Pacific waters near Cauca on Monday after being forced to jump overboard by pirates who hijacked their boat, Caracol Radio reports.
The boat, which was traveling between the western Colombian ports of Buenaventura and Timbiqui, was boarded by armed pirates who threatened passengers and eventually forced them to throw themselves into the sea.
The passengers were then left stranded in the ocean as the pirates fled with their possessions, as well as with cargo that was being transported between the two ports.
The stranded citizens were fortunately intercepted within two hours by another passenger boat traveling to Buenaventura. The victims were taken back to land where they received medical treatment from the Navy health service and the Colombian Red Cross.
Due to a history of similar incidents affecting passenger boats between the two Caucan ports, local residents have appealed to the authorities to increase security measures against pirate assaults.
