13 dead in Papua boat accident

INDONESIA: Thirteen people drowned and one is still missing after an overloaded boat capsized on Tuesday at the mouth of the Raywoto river in Waropen, about one day's sea journey west of Jayapura in Papua.

Fifteen of the 29 passengers survived the incident, while 13 were swept under by the currents, Yapen Waropen Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Nelson Panjaitan, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

One passenger is still missing and a search for him is underway. The 13 bodies of the other victims had been found and buried by relatives.

The accident occurred at 10:00 a.m. local time when the vessel was hit by large waves and later capsized.

The motorized boat, built to carry a maximum of 17 passengers, was carrying 29 passengers at the time.

The boat was traveling from Waropen to Yapen Waropen island. It takes eight hours to travel from Waropen to the island by motorboat. -- JP