Search for victims ends in Sulawesi ferry sinking<\/p>\n
UJUNGPANDANG, S. Sulawesi (JP): Police called off the search
\nfor victims of Sunday's ferry accident in Pangkep regency
\nyesterday because there were no new reports of missing people.<\/p>\n
But Pangkep's police chief, Lt. Col. Haryogo, said an
\nemergency post had been set up near the accident site.<\/p>\n
The Sumber Jaya ferry, believed to have been carrying twice as
\nmany passengers as its capacity, sunk in the small town of
\nPangkep, 60 kilometers north of here.<\/p>\n
Police said yesterday nine people died in the accident, not 13
\nas earlier reported.<\/p>\n
They said the first casualty estimates were based on the
\ninaccurate reports by local hospital clerks Sunday.<\/p>\n
Haryogo said police had detained the Sumber Jaya's captain,
\nMuhammad Arifin.<\/p>\n
He will be charged under Article 359 of Criminal Code for
\nnegligence causing people to die.<\/p>\n
If found guilty he faces a maximum five years jail.<\/p>\n
He did not say anything about the people who were reportedly
\nstill missing.<\/p>\n
The ship's capacity was 25 passengers but it was carrying
\nabout 60 people.<\/p>\n
Eleven people with injuries were found.<\/p>\n
The chief of the Biringkassi Port in Pangkep said the port
\ncould not be held accountable for the accident because the ferry
\nwas sailing without a license.<\/p>\n
\"The accident was definitely not our responsibility. As far as
\nwe know, it didn't have any sailing documents,\" Zainuddin said.<\/p>\n
The chief of the government's ferry transportation authority
\nin Pangkep, Hasan Muhiddin, said that because the ship was not
\nlicensed the accident was the captain's responsibility.<\/p>\n
The South Sulawesi transportation office has set up a fact-
\nfinding team to investigate the accident.<\/p>\n
\"All vessels have been instructed to help look for the missing
\npassengers,\" the office's M.A. Mappagiling was quoted by Antara
\nas saying yesterday.<\/p>\n
The team is expected to question the seaworthiness of the
\nferry, its safety equipment, and the discipline of officials
\nsupervising the ferries. (31\/aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/search-for-victims-ends-in-sulawesi-ferry-sinking-1447893297",
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