13 people feared dead in boat accident in Papua

13 people feared dead in boat accident in Papua

Associated Press, Jakarta

Thirteen people were feared dead after a motor boat caught fire
and sank on Friday in a lake in the country's easternmost
province of Papua.

The boat reportedly split into several parts during a fire on
board, allegedly started by a drunk captain who threw his lit
cigarette butt into the fuel tank, Antara quoted survivors as
saying.

The boat, belonging to the local government, was carrying 64
crew members and passengers from the town of Enarotali to three
villages around Lake Wisel Meren, in Central Papua.

Antara said 51 people survived the accident, and were treated
at a hospital in Enarotali, 3,200 kilometers northeast of
Jakarta.

Police in Nabire, the closest district town with
telecommunication facilities, confirmed the accident but provided
few details.

"A boat was reported to have capsized and 13 drowned," said a
police officer in Nabire, about 100 kilometers northwest of
Enarotali, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

He said police were checking the report and would give an
official statement later.

Antara said security forces were guarding government
facilities against possible violence by relatives of the victims.

Papua occupies the western half of New Guinea. The
transportation and telecommunication systems do not cover many
parts of the region, which has vast jungles and huge mountain
ranges.