Slovenia:Eight dead as canoeists sucked into turbines

Eight dead as canoeists sucked into turbines
Story Highlights
Six killed, five others missing after two canoes ran over dam in Slovenia

Three people swam ashore after boats broke up, but two later died

Accident happened near Sevnica, 90 km southeast of capital Ljubljana


LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) -- Divers pulled six bodies out of the Sava River and fought strong currents Friday to search for five other people still missing after two canoes were crushed running over a dam in southeastern Slovenia.

Three people managed to swim ashore after their boats crumpled, overturned and capsized but two of them died Friday in the hospital, raising the death toll to 8, according police spokesman Robert Perc. The third survivor remained hospitalized.

The accident happened late Thursday, when two large canoes decided to run over a dam under construction near Sevnica, a town 56 miles (90 kilometers) southeast of the capital of Ljubljana. At that section, the dam, part of a hydroelectric plant, is currently built only to about the height of the water.

The trip -- ominously dubbed "The Final Descent" -- was organized by local officials and all participants were Slovenians. It was to be the last ride down that section of the river, which will soon be blocked by the hydroelectric plant.

Two other canoes -- part of the four-boat excursion -- left the river before reaching the site.

Slovenian TV journalist Goran Rovan, who had been in one of the safe canoes, told the state-run news agency STA that the other canoes capsized and broke apart when they hit the whitewater passing through the dam gates. The occupants fell into the river and were sucked by the rapids into the underwater tunnel leading to the generator turbines.

TV in Slovenia showed chilling footage Friday of the canoes entering the dam, followed by the sound of screams. Then the kayaks broke up, overturned and capsized.
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