17 killed truck accident in E. Timor

JAKARTA (JP): At least 17 people were killed when a truck carrying dozens of people plunged into a ravine in the East Timor district of Ermera yesterday afternoon.

Dozens of other passengers suffering both serious and light injuries have been taken to the Ermera health clinic for treatment.

As of last night, Ermera police and health officers were still at the accident scene trying to determine the exact number of casualties, Antara reported.

The truck was carrying people home from a pilgrimage service on Mt. Ramelau when it plunged into a ravine in the village of Ledeluli in the subdistrict of Letefoho.

The ravine is estimated to be about 25 meter deep.

Some locals said there had been many serious accidents along the Ermera-Letefoho-Ainaro route because of the narrowness of the road and the deep ravine on the left.

Tens of thousands of Catholics from East Timor and neighboring East Nusa Tenggara climbed the mountain to gather for an annual mass.

This year's mass was led by Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo and Baucau Bishop Basilio do Nascimento. (swe)