10 dead in ship accident

SORONG, Irian Jaya: Ten people died and another 10 remain missing after the motorized vessel Sembra sank on Friday night in a river estuary in Sorong regency, Irian Jaya.

The vessel with more than 100 passengers on board sank two hours after it departed Klamono on its way to Teminabuan regency, Antara reported.

"So far we have found 10 bodies and they had been claimed by their relatives," the leader of the local search and research team, Edy R. Kudubun, said on Saturday. Some 90 passengers were rescued.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident. Edy said the 15 metric-ton vessel had a capacity to hold 50 passengers, adding that he believed the vessel was overloaded with passengers and cargo. Official data on the exact number of passengers aboard the vessel was not available.

The search and rescue team continued its search for the 10 missing people on Saturday. (06)