E. Timor ship sinks off RI

E. Timor ship sinks off RI

EAST TIMOR: Four people drowned and seven are missing after a cargo ship from East Timor sank in rough seas off Indonesia's remote Flores island, the Lusa news agency reported on Wednesday, citing maritime officials in the former Portuguese colony.

The vessel, the 1,700 ton Beleza de Timor, was traveling from Java, Indonesia's main island, to Dili, the capital of East Timor, with 12 crew members onboard when it went down last week, the officials said.

The captain of the vessel was found by local residents on a beach in Flores on Saturday. He is believed to be the sole survivor of the sinking.

Indonesian search and rescue services have been searching for the remaining seven crew members, but were forced to suspend rescue efforts on Tuesday due to severe sea conditions, Lusa reported.

Severe storms swept across Indonesia last week causing widespread flooding and killing at least 13 people. --AFP.