Ramp breaks, damages cars

BANTEN, West Java: Huge waves and strong winds in the Sunda Strait Saturday broke open the vehicle ramp of the Kotabumi ferry. Twenty cars on board were overturned and seriously damaged as the ramp sank, but no casualties were reported.

Antara reported the ferry had been idle in the waters off the Merak coast for two hours awaiting its turn to approach the quay.

The accident was an "act of God" and nothing could be done about it, Bambang Biditjahjono, head of the local office of the company which runs the ferry service, said.

"This is the first time such an accident has occurred, and fortunately nobody was hurt and no cars were lost," he said.

The installation of a new ramp door, he said, would take about 15 days.

Poor weather has made the strait treacherous since Dec. 5. (swe)