Easter boat accident leaves 21 dead and one missing
Easter boat accident leaves 21 dead and one missing
JAKARTA (JP): Easter celebrations in the Sangihe Talaud
islands turned tragic when 21 people died and one passenger was
reported missing after their traditional pamo boat capsized in
the waters off the islands, Antara reported on Tuesday.
The fatalities included Sensong subdistrict head A.H.
Lawendatu, 53, and priest M. Lembong, 69, while the missing
passenger was identified as 18-year-old Lexie Salawati.
The bodies of all who died were returned to their families and
the injured were treated at hospitals.
Earlier on Monday, Sangihe Talaud regent Freddy Manahampi told
North Sulawesi Governor A.J. Sondakh about the accident that took
place on Sunday.
Freddy said the boat was carrying 53 members of the
congregation of Sensong village Pentecostal Church, North Tabukan
district, heading for Kulur village for an Easter service.
A storm and high waves were blamed for the accident, which
occurred at around 4 p.m. local time.
After meeting with Freddy, Governor Sondakh expressed his
condolences to the families and relatives of the victims and
warned the residents of the Sangihe Talaud islands to beware of
changeable weather when making trips by sea.
The accident came just three days after the Maidi Star, which
plies the Ternate-Goto-Halmahera route capsized in a storm as it
approached Akelamo village in Oba district, Central Halmahera,
North Maluku.
An 81 year old woman and a six month old baby died in the
accident, while 43 crew members and passengers survived.
Fachrudin, an official from Pelindo, the state-owned port
company, said the Maidi Star departed Bastiong port in Ternate at
around 6 a.m., with 25 people on board.
Twenty more passengers boarded the vessel during a stop at
Goto port with the result that it became overloaded.
The Omsini, a passing vessel, immediately came to the
assistance of the ill-fated vessel's passengers and crew.
The local geophysics and meteorology agency said that the
waters around the Halmahera and Morotai islands were dangerous
for smaller craft, with waves sometimes reaching up to two meters
in height. (emf)