10 killed in two incidents in Ambon
10 killed in two incidents in Ambon
AMBON, Maluku (JP): At least 10 people were killed in two
separate incidents in Ambon on Wednesday, an official and reports
say.
The latest incident took place around 8 a.m. local time
Wednesday when an assembled bomb, fastened under the seat of a
motorcycle, exploded in Slamet Riyadi Port in Ambon, killing
three people instantly.
Ambon Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Hasanuddin said from Ambon
by phone that the driver and the passenger of the motorcycle died
instantly when the bomb exploded.
"Since the alleged suspects (the two motorists) died in the
blast, we're having problems probing the case," Hasanuddin said,
adding that the motorists' bodies were beyond recognition.
A 50-year-old woman who was on a public minivan in the
vicinity of the explosion also died after being hit by shrapnel.
The bomb exploded right after the motorbike overtook the
public minivan.
The explosion also damaged the public minivan. The minivan
driver and conductor were both injured. Six other people were
also injured. All victims were rushed to nearby Al Fatah Hospital
in Ambon.
Meanwhile, a speedboat carrying some 30 passengers capsized
due to bad weather in the waters off Batu Kapal on Haruku island
of Central Maluku regency on Wednesday morning, killing at least
seven people at 7:40 a.m. local time.
Four other passengers are still missing. Nineteen passengers
were rescued by a passing speedboat and a rescue team from the
civil emergency authorities.
The speedboat was on its way to Passo on Ambon island from
Haria on Saparua island when it hit rough seas and stormy
weather.
According to Antara news agency, six fatalities were
identified as Merry Riuwpassa, Ibu Raja Titaley, Agus Sapulette,
Ite Tamaela, Lenny Latupeirissa and Theis Sohilait. One body was
unidentified and has been sent to Oma village in Haruku island.
The four missing were reportedly identified as Notje Tuarissa,
Selly Tuarissa, G. Soumokil and Frentho Limahelu, the news agency
added.
As of Wednesday afternoon locals and authorities stepped up
the search for the missing passengers using speedboat and
Ketinting vessels, but due to strong winds the search was
suspended and will resume on Thursday. (49/edt)