Ferry terminal kept busy

SERANG, West Java: The ferry terminal here reported a sudden increase since Sunday in the number of people crossing from Sumatra to Java.

According to Antara, the increase was caused by the hordes of people in Sumatra coming to visit the Second Istiqlal Festival of Islamic arts in Jakarta. They came on chartered buses and private cars from all parts of Sumatra.

The ferry terminal said that the number of passengers that crossed from Bakauheni in Lampung to Merak jumped from an average of 10,000 a day to 17,000 and 20,000 a day beginning Sunday.

Consequently, the number of passengers crossing from Merak to Bakauheni also jumped from 12,500 to between 16,000 and 19,000 a day, said Chidir Julianto, a port administrator.

Twenty four ferries ply the route crossing the Sunda Strait. (emb)