Eight die in boat mishap

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