Overloaded boat sinks, killing five people

Jemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang

An overloaded boat has sunk in the Solor Strait, East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, killing five people with four others missing. A search and rescue team has been mobilized in the area.

Sources said the boat captained by Matheus Bale Maron sank after it was hit by a surge of water caused by two passing ships.

The sources with the East Flores Police said the commercial boat was traveling from Adonara to East Solor here on Saturday, with 32 passengers and four crew members on board.

The small vessel had a capacity of 12 people, said the police sources.

The boat sunk some 500 meters from the shore in Lohayong, East Solor.

East Flores Police deputy chief Adj. Comr. Marianus Setty Djadi said the passengers were from Baniona and West Solor here.

The bodies of the five victims have been handed over to family members.

Marianus said the police had questioned Matheus as a suspect.

While water transportation is popular in this archipelagic country, safety standards and awareness remain low, leading to frequent accidents.