One killed, five missing in boat accident

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: At least one person drowned and five went missing when a fishing boat chartered to ferry dozens of people from Torobulu Port in Kendari regency to Tampo in Muna regency, both in Southeast Sulawesi, sank over the weekend just before it reached its destination.

The head of the Kendari Search and Rescue (SAR) team, Rocky Asikin, identified the dead man as Syarif, 40.

Rocky said the team was still searching for five other people.

"We are mobilizing one ship and one speedboat to look (for the missing persons) aside from local fishermen," Rocky was quoted by Antara as saying.

Rocky said that it was difficult to determine how many people had been on the boat because those who had been picked up by either fishermen or the Search and Rescue team had proceeded to their respective destinations upon reaching shore. -- Antara