Boat sinks off Nias, killing three people

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan

At least three people, including a baby, were killed and two others were reported missing after a boat capsized off the tourist island of Nias in North Sumatra amid bad weather, police and port officials said on Monday.

The boat sank at around 4 a.m. early on Sunday while carrying at least 15 passengers and a crew of 11 members, in addition to approximately 100 tons of cargo -- copra, cooking oil and rubber.

The boat was reportedly hit by huge waves during a storm while on its way from Lahewa on the northwest tip of Nias to Sibolga in North Sumatra, said Sibolga port official Frisz Agamsyah.

"It appears as though the KM Sinar Makmur sank after a crack in its hull, caused by large waves, that allowed water to leak in," he added.

Frisz added that it sank about three hours off Gunung Sitoli, which lies on the east coast of Nias.

The three dead were identified as Ina Fitri and her one-year old baby, Lisi, and Fuady, while those reported missing are another passenger, Bukary, and crew member Samsuddin.

The remaining passengers and crew were rescued by passing vessels and later a team of rescue workers.

The survivors were taken to Gunung Sitoli hospital for treatment.

The rescuers were continuing the search for the two missing passengers, Nias Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Jahner Pasaribu said.

He admitted that the police and port authorities were late in acting upon a report of the accident from crew members Yaman Gulo and Anali Zalukhu.

Frisz said the KM Sinar Makmur was actually a cargo boat, but that the authorities permitted passengers because there were no other ships serving the Lahewa-Sibolga route.

"The safety conditions between Nias and Sibolga are considered risky due to bad weather in the June-September period," he said.

Frisz urged all ships to take extra precautionary measures to limit the possibility of such accidents.

Shipping accidents are common in Indonesia, in large part because safety regulations are poorly enforced and boats are frequently overcrowded.

Last May, at least five people were missing after a cargo ship capsized in the waters off the eastern island of Sumbawa in West Nusa Tenggara province.

Last February, at least four people were killed when a cargo ship sank in the waters off Flores island in East Nusa Tenggara.

Earlier in January, at least 15 people went missing and were possibly trapped under a ship that capsized in waters off Taliabu island in North Maluku province.