My family and I recently returned from a three week trip to Peru, where a highlight of the trip had been an Amazon cruise on a ship called the Aqua Amazon. It was an amazing experience, filled with wildlife and scenery the likes of which I hadn’t seen before.

This past Saturday, there was an explosion while the ship was refueling. It sank and, according to news reports, eight crew members were lost and more were seriously injured.

I got to know some of these people a little and I’m shocked and sorrowed to hear of this tragic accident. This was a friendly, caring, talented group. I’m overcome with grief for them. My thoughts are with the injured and the families of the victims.