All missing girls found dead in Aceh

LHOKSEUMAWE, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam: After searching for three days, a joint search and rescue team found the bodies of five missing girls who were drowned after their wooden boat capsized in Krueng Puto River in Lhoksukon subdistrict, North Aceh, an official said on Tuesday.

Lhoksukon subdistrict head Hasanuddin said the last victim -- identified as Mauliana, 13, -- was found dead on Monday night on the riverbed.

The joint team of marines, police and local rescue workers had evacuated four other bodies identified as Nurjani, 13, Nurul Aflah, 13, Sarmina, 14, and Nurul Falita, 14.

The five were all residents of Treng Pantang village in Lhoksukon.

The incident took place last Saturday when the five girls were aboard the boat transporting them to school along with 12 other survivors. The boat suddenly began to fill with water, forcing all passengers to jump off.

The five drowned because they were unable to swim, witnesses said. --JP