Overcrowded fishing boat sinks off Makasar, six die<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi<\/p>\n
Six passengers of a passenger-cum-fishing boat, the Sinar Jaya
\n03, died after it was hit by high waves, and the victims were
\nthrown into the waters of the Makassar Strait near Kodingareng
\nIsland, some 11 17.7 kilometers southwest of the South Sulawesi
\ncapital of Makassar, at around 10 a.m. on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Besides the fatalities, another passenger was reported missing
\nand two others were receiving treatment at the Stella Maris
\nHospital in Makassar.<\/p>\n
The six were identified as Kebo, 37, Hadria, 35, Hajja Lija,
\n42, Nurlia Jufri, 17, Marlina, 14, and Salma, 45. Their bodies
\nhave been claimed by their families and are due to be buried on
\nFriday.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the missing passenger was identified as Saleha, 17,
\nand the two passengers receiving treatment in the hospital as
\nRizki Nasir, 5, and Hajrana, 30.<\/p>\n
Police reports said the boat left Kodingareng Island for
\nBarrang Caddi Island at around 9:30 a.m.<\/p>\n
But, when the boat was only 300 meters away from the
\nKodingareng jetty, it was suddenly hit by high waves that threw
\n15 passengers who where sitting on top of the boat's cabin roof
\ninto the water.<\/p>\n
One of the survivors, Hajrana, said there were about 50 people
\non board the boat, twice its capacity of 30 people.<\/p>\n
As the boat's deck was already full of passengers, the 15
\npassengers then sat on the roof.<\/p>\n
"Perhaps, it was due to overcrowding that when the strong
\nwaves hit, the boat suddenly listed," Hajrana said.<\/p>\n
Surviving passengers, together with local fishermen and
\nresidents, and officers from the Makassar Port Police who arrived
\nan hour later, then attempted to save the passengers who had been
\nthrown into the water. All they found were six bodies and the two
\ninjured passengers.<\/p>\n
While Hajrana had improved by Thursday afternoon after
\nreceiving treatment at the Stella Maris hospital, the other
\ninjured victim, Rizki, was still on a drip.<\/p>\n
Chief of the Public Service Unit of the Makassar Port Police,
\nSecond Insp. Priyo Purawanto, said later on Thursday evening that
\nthe police, with the help of local residents, would continue
\ntheir operation to rescue or recover the bodies of the missing
\npassengers.<\/p>\n
He said the police would also focus on the cause of the
\nincident.<\/p>\n
"We're still investigating the real cause of the incident. We
\nhave just summoned the boat owner and its captain for
\nquestioning," Priyo said.<\/p>\n
"Please be patient."<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/overcrowded-fishing-boat-sinks-off-makasar-six-die-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }