North Sulawesi accidents costly

MANADO, North Sulawesi: More than Rp 5.1 billion (US$2.16 million) in insurance has been paid to road accident victims in the province between 1992-1996.

Expressing his concern over the number of accidents in North Sulawesi, Governor E.E. Mangindaan said the money was paid to 6,024 accident victims by the state-owned PT Jasa Rahardja.

In the first half of this year, 622 people died due to traffic related accidents and more than Rp 575 million was paid in compensation.

"Most of the victims were high school and college students," Mangindaan said Saturday after inaugurating Aselen Sinaga as chief of PT. Jasa Raharja's Manado branch replacing M. Mashoeri who takes over the company's Bandung office. (09)