11 killed, 35 missing as ferry sinks off Poso<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Ampana<\/p>\n
A ferry, carrying twice its maximum load of passengers, capsized
\nin Tomini Bay off Central Sulawesi province, leaving at least 11
\npeople dead and 35 others missing, authorities said.<\/p>\n
The bodies of eight of the dead, including an eight-month-old,
\nwere recovered in the waters near Tanjung Api, after the
\nincident, which took place on Wednesday at 10:45 a.m.<\/p>\n
They have been buried in the town of Ampana, about 196
\nkilometers northeast of Poso.<\/p>\n
The other three victims were found separately off the coast of
\nBatudaka Island near Bomba village.<\/p>\n
All of the dead lived on Togean Island.<\/p>\n
In all some 127 people survived the mishap, although
\nauthorities do not yet have a final figure.<\/p>\n
Most of the survivors have returned home to their families
\nafter medical checkups.<\/p>\n
The KM Wana Bakti had a maximum capacity of about 65
\npassengers, along with five tons of cargo.<\/p>\n
According to Ampana port authorities, at least 152 people were
\nknown have been aboard when the ship left Ampana port for Wakai
\ntown in Togean Island.<\/p>\n
Dozens more also boarded the vessel without tickets, however,
\nso the true number of passengers may never be known.<\/p>\n
Poso Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Unggung Chahyono told Antara
\non Friday that security personnel and rescue workers from the
\nlocal transportation office were continuing their search for more
\nsurvivors.<\/p>\n
The search and rescue operations were conducted by motor boats
\nin Togean Island.<\/p>\n
Unggung urged villagers to alert local authorities if any of
\ntheir family members may have been among those on the ill-fated
\nship.<\/p>\n
Witnesses said the ship tipped over after it was hit by a
\npowerful wave about 45 minutes out to sea. The ferry eventually
\nbroke apart and sank beneath the waves.<\/p>\n
Central Sulawesi police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus Sugianto
\nconfirmed that \"preliminary data\" indicates \"strong waves and
\nexcessive passengers\" led to the catastrophe.<\/p>\n
The captain of the ship, identified only as Efendy, has
\nsurvived and was being questioned by Ampana police investigators
\non Friday, said police; port authorities will also be questioned.<\/p>\n
\"We want to find out whether the ferry was overloaded from
\nnegligence, or with the knowledge of port officials,\" Unggung
\nsaid. \"This was a fatal mistake which we must get to the bottom
\nof.\"<\/p>\n
Survivors have not said much about how the ferry became
\noverloaded, recounting instead the final, terror-filled moments
\nbefore it disappeared beneath the water.<\/p>\n
One survivor, Ridwan, recalled that after being hit by a
\nstrong wave the ship rolled, and then broke up before it sank.<\/p>\n
\"Suddenly, water flowed into the vessel,\" he said, \"and then
\nit sank.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/11-killed-35-missing-as-ferry-sinks-off-poso-1447893297",
"image": ""
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