Four students drown, seven injured

Four students drown, seven injured

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Four vocational high school students from Soe district drowned and seven others were injured in a boating accident on Saturday, an official said.

Kupang Police deputy chief First Insp. Sabarudin Ginting said the four students -- Melfi Hala, 16; Willem Kebkole, 17; Elisabeth Natonis, 16; and Martha Nesimnasi, 16 -- were riding on a boat at Lasiana beach along with 25 other students.

"Suddenly the boat careened and the students were thrown into the water. It happened not far from the beach," Ginting said on Sunday.

The seven students injured in the accident are still being treated at the Kupang General Hospital and the Bhayangkara Police Hospital.

The school's principal, Abraham Tamelan, said 344 students were taking part in a field trip to the beach.--JP