Eight die in boat mishap

INDONESIA: At least eight people have died and three others have gone missing after a boat carrying 23 passengers sank on Saturday in waters between Haruku and Saparua islands in the troubled province of Maluku.

The other 12 people survived the mishap, which occurred at 9:15 a.m. local time and were receiving medical treatment at Saparua public hospital.

Police said that because there were no rescue teams in the area, local residents were deployed to search for the three missing victims, adding their efforts were hampered by bad weather.

The sea accident was blamed on bad weather and mountainous waves.

The ill-fated boat, Inalatu, had left Booy village in Saparua subdistrict for neighboring Aboru village on Haruku Island, which is home to refugees from Kariu village.

The 23 passengers, mostly women, were to take part in a religious ceremony alongside Kariu villagers. --JP