Caribbean tourist boat capsizes: 13 women killed off coast of Nicaragua as British man and woman rescued

Two Britons are among those rescued from the stricken vessel

Nicaragua beach (Getty)

Thirteen women have drowned in the Caribbean Sea after a tourist ferry capsized just off the coast of south-eastern Nicaragua.

A British man and woman were rescued from the sunken boat along with two American tourists, three Nicaraguans and 12 Costa Ricans.

The Reina del Caribe (Caribbean Queen) got into difficulty in rain and high winds travelling between the Corn Islands, a popular tourist destination

Of the 13 women drowned, all were Costa Rican nationals. The boat's captain and owner have been detained by authorities for breaking a ban on operating during stormy weather.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are aware of the sinking of a passenger boat between Corn Island and Little Corn Island in the Caribbean Sea on 23 January.

“We are in touch with the local authorities and providing consular assistance to affected British nationals”.

Local authorities had reportedly suspended boat launches in the area due to high wind speeds that reached 25 to 30 knots (29 to 35 mph) after several days of stormy weather.

Government spokeswoman Rosario Murillo told El 19 Digital the incident had been “a great tragedy”.