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)