Five students drown at sea

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Five students drowned Sunday after they entered a no-swimming area at the Cemara beach resort in Lhoknga, Aceh Besar regency, 17 kilometers from here, Antara reported.

Four of the female students were sisters and cousins from Pekan Bada district. They were Jasmati, 17, Jasmalinda, 16, Lisa, 17, and Linda, 17. The other student was Rizal, a resident of Neusu Jaya village, Baiturrahman district in Banda Aceh.

The bodies of Jasmawati and Jasmalinda were found 50 meters from where they drowned.

Jasmawati first swam into the forbidden area, and was dragged out by the current. Her sister and cousins and Rizal tried to help, but were also pulled out.

Police and security authorities are still searching for the other victims.

Local residents have a tradition of greeting the Ramadhan fasting month by swimming in the sea and having a picnic on the beach. (swe)