Capsize death toll rises to 12

Capsize death toll rises to 12

TANGERANG (JP): The bodies of five more people who drowned
when the overloaded boat in which they were traveling capsized
bring the death toll from the accident to 12, an official has
said.

The boat was carrying guests back to Cituis port in Tangerang
from a wedding reception in the Thousand Islands when it
capsized, Parmudji, the head of port authority, said.

The five, who were found floating near Lancang island some
distance from where the boat capsized, were identified as Jajang,
25, Sarwiah, 45, Acip, 45, Rojali, 5, and Sarbawi, 21, he said.

The victims were found by the search and rescue teams which
have been scouring the area since shortly after the accident
happened.

Parmudji said he was not sure how many people were still
missing because reports on the number of passengers traveling on
the boat were contradictory.

"Confusion over the exact number of the passengers on the boat
has been caused mainly by the absence of a manifest," he said.

The Krisna-1 was reported to have been carrying 30 passengers
and a crew of three, but as of yesterday the number of survivors
had reached 36, he said.

All passengers boarded at Lancang Island and were heading for
Cituis port in Paku Haji, Tangerang, after the wedding ceremony
when the accident happened.

The vessel measured 1.5 meters by 7 meters and reportedly had
the capacity to carry between 12 and 15 people. The passengers
apparently panicked when the craft was battered by huge waves and
winds shortly before it capsized about 2.3 nautical miles from
Lancang. (41/hhr)