38 found alive in Irian ship wreck

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Rescuer workers fished out 53 passengers from MV Bimas Raya II which sank off south coast of Irian Jaya on Wednesday. Fifteen of them were dead, and 38 others were taken to Merauke Hospital.

Bimas Raya sank in Hobe-Okaba waters, 60 miles west of Merauke, when it was sailing from Kimaam to Merauke.

The head of the Irian Jaya Transportation Office H.F. Nelwan said five ships and an Army Puma helicopter were involved in the rescue operation.

Nelwan said the number of passengers on the ill-fated ship could not be determined for certain.

"The ship's crew reported 159 passengers, exceeding the maximum limit of 125. Local sources said there were 300 people on board," he said.

Identification of victims and survivors was made difficult because many passengers did not have I.D. cards, he said.

A series of riots erupted in Merauke following the accident when relatives of missing passengers protested at the poor rescue efforts by the government. Local military commander Lt. Col. Udin Supidin said a group of people had sought refuge to military installations for fear of threats from unidentified persons. (05)