Five students missing in Aceh boat accident<\/p>\n
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh,
\nNanggroe Aceh Darussalam<\/p>\n
At least five girls, all students, were missing and presumed dead
\non Saturday after they jumped off their boat that was about to
\ncapsize into a river in Lhoksukon area, North Aceh, police and
\nresidents said.<\/p>\n
Also Saturday, a 15-year old senior high school student,
\nSugianto, drowned while swimming in the Kahayan River in Palangka
\nRaya, Central Kalimantan, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
Rescue workers are searching for his body.<\/p>\n
Twelve other students on board the boat survived the accident
\nthat occurred at around 7 a.m. in Teupen Gapeh village, Tanah
\nPasir subdistrict, some 20 kilometers east of Lhokseumawe, after
\nbeing rescued by locals.<\/p>\n
The five missing girls -- three junior high school students
\nand two elementary school pupils -- were aboard the wooden boat
\ncarrying them to their schools along with the 12 survivors.<\/p>\n
The boat was crossing the Keuruto River.<\/p>\n
However, the students discovered their boat was leaking and
\nquickly jumped off into the 100-meter-wide river and tried to
\nswim to the riverbank.<\/p>\n
The five drowned because they were unable to swim.<\/p>\n
\"When we realized water was coming into the boat, we jumped
\noff the boat in panic. I tried to swim to the riverbank and thank
\nGod the rescuers (local villagers) managed to grab my hand,\" said
\na trembling Rahmayati, one of the survivors.<\/p>\n
The waters were high at the time of the accident following
\nheavy rain on Friday.<\/p>\n
North Aceh Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Eko Daniyanto said a
\nteam of police, marines and official rescuers was searching for
\nthe missing students.<\/p>\n
\"We will continue trying hard to look for them, even though
\nconditions will probably be tough,\" he told The Jakarta Post by
\nphone.<\/p>\n
The five girls, from Treng Pantang village in Lhoksukon
\nsubdistrict, were identified as Mulyana, Nurjani, Nurfalita,
\nSarmina, and Nurafla.<\/p>\n
It remains unclear what caused the accident. But local
\nofficials said the strong currents in the swollen river may have
\ntriggered the accident.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/five-students-missing-in-aceh-boat-accident-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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