9 die, 4 missing in boat accident

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Nine people were found dead and four others were still missing after their fishing boat capsized on Saturday in the waters off South Aceh on the northwestern coast of Sumatra.

Twenty-three other crew members survived after being rescued by a passing Navy vessel, the Teluk Ratai, one of the survivors, Ponirin, said on Monday. The Taat Maju fishing boat sank after colliding with an unknown ship, explained Ponirin.

The 23 survivors were questioned on Monday at the Water Police station in Sibolga regency, North Sumatra province. -- JP