July 20, 1999
Web posted at: 10:19 p.m. EDT (0219 GMT)

PUERTO CABEZAS, Nicaragua -- Rescue crews combed the waters off Nicaragua's Caribbean coast Tuesday, one day after a commercial fishing boat with at least 60 people aboard capsized in bad weather, an army spokesman said.

The Golden Arrow was carrying 60 to 65 divers, fishermen and crewmen when it sank early Monday near the port city of Puerto Cabezas, about 270 miles (450 km) northeast of Managua. The boat is owned by the Nicaraguan company Altanor.

At least 16 people have been rescued, including six survivors who were picked up Tuesday by the U.S. fishing boat Gulf King.

Rain and high winds are hampering efforts by the Nicaraguan Navy and local fishing boats to find more crew members, but there was a good chance more survivors will be found, searchers said.

"Chances (of survival) are good because the men on board have experience in the high seas," a military official told Reuters.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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