Boat sinks in SE Sulawesi

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): Forty six people were feared drowned after a boat sunk near Lambasina island in Southeast Sulawesi on Friday night.

The vessel, Rahmat Buhari, was on the way from Bone regency to Kolaka regency with 122 passengers and a crew of 17 on board when it sunk. Search and rescue teams saved 93 people, with the rest unaccounted for.

The vessel was reportedly carrying nine trucks and six cars. It was licensed to carry 300 people and 15 trucks.

An air police officer, Seram Umar Selam, told The Jakarta Post that the vessel reported that it had run into trouble in stormy seas at around 10:30 p.m. on Friday.

The boat was four-and-a-half-hours into a seven-hour journey when it sank. (30)