Boat capsizes, eight drown

PEKALONGAN, Central Java: Eight crew members of the KM Alfadi went missing when the motorboat capsized early Thursday in a storm in the Karimunjawa waters, Jepara, Antara reported yesterday.

"The boat was on the way home to Pekalongan port when it was hit by the storm," according to Kaliri, one of the crewmen who survived the accident.

Those who went missing are 37-year-old helmsman Saryan and his crew: Kliwon, 31, Soleh, 27, Usin, 21, Dikin, 19, Tarsono, 17, Yoklan, 30, and Warso, 17. All were residents of Padaharja village, Kramat district, Tegal.

When asked by the news agency, Second Lt. Sugiono of the Tegal police office said he had yet to receive reports about the incident. (swe)