Seven drowned in ship mishap

Seven drowned in ship mishap

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: At least seven people drowned
with several others missing when the Lintas Samudera cargo ship
sank off Tanjung Teipo early Monday morning.

Rescue teams found 42 survivors but the true number of those
on board is unknown as the ship did not keep a proper log.

"We still don't know exactly how many were on board. From
those who survived we have gathered that six are missing," said
Mawardi Yusuf, head of the province's communications office.

However others estimate that as many as 70 may have been on
the ship.

The ship's captain, Udin, also did not know how many
passengers he was carrying.

The ship, which serves the Tanjung Taipa-Kendari route, was
not designed as a passenger ship. However due to slow business it
permitted passengers on board.

"What we regret most of all is that the ship, without proper
navigational or communications equipment, still carried that many
passengers," Mawardi remarked.

"When it got into trouble there was no one they could turn
to for help".

Antara reported that the ship sank after being hit by strong
waves.