3 killed in rafting tragedy

3 killed in rafting tragedy

JAKARTA (JP): Three tourists were killed when their raft overturned during a trip down the Unda River on the island of Bali on Monday, Antara reported yesterday.

The news agency identified two of the victims as Hauw Yuk Pik, 30, and Lauw Yeuk Cheuw, 50, both from Hong Kong.

However, AFP, quoting the police in Bali, said the victims were Lam Yeuk Chew, 49, who also held an Australian passport, Chan Liu Hotik, a 30-year-old woman, and Kwang Chi Sum, 41.

Five other tourists injured in the accident were taken to the general hospital in Klungkung, about 40 km east of Denpasar, the capital of Bali. They were transferred to the Sanglah General Hospital in Denpasar yesterday.

The bodies of the three victims are currently in Klungkung for autopsies.

Klungkung Regent Ida Bagus Oka told Antara that the accident occurred after a flash flood hit six rafts carrying 28 tourists from Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

He said the accident happened during a heavy rainfall which came unexpectedly. "This was purely an accident," he was quoted as saying.

One of the bodies was found at the finish line near the office of Arha Bali Rafting, the company which organized the expedition. The other two were fished out from the river. This is the first time that a raft accident in Bali has claimed the lives of foreigners, according to Antara.

Water sports have become one of the latest fads and tourist attractions in Bali, where at least four companies offer rafting expeditions. (swe)