Search operation for victims of sunken boat resumes in central Indonesia
Xinhua, May 7, 2016 Adjust font size:
Rescuers on Saturday resumed search and rescue for victims of a boat accident in central Indonesia.
A wooden boat carrying wedding procession capsized in East Kalimantan province on Thursday and seven bodies have been recovered so far, rescuers said.
"We started again the operation this morning to find the victims," Spokesman of National Search and Rescue Office Marsudi told Xinhua by phone Saturday, adding local rescuers, sailors, police and military are involved in the operation.
According to the manifest only one person was still missing, he said. However, the number of people on board often exceeds the recorded figure in Indonesia.
The wooden boat Putra Iraya, previously reported as KM Vega, sank at about 17:00 local time Thursday after departing from Tanjung Aru of Pasir district, of East Kalimantan province, Mujiono, head of operation at the provincial search and rescue office has told Xinhua.
As many as 47 people have been rescued by local rescuers and volunteers so far, Mujiono said.
The authorities have initially concluded that the boat was hit by huge waves.
Boats and ferries are a popular means of transport in Indonesia, an archipelago country with 17,500 islands. However, lacking of safety standards has often triggered accidents. Endit