Ramp breaks, damages cars

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)