Sexagenarian killed in ferry collision

BATAM, Riau: An elderly woman was found dead after a boat she was on was hit by a ferry off of Banten Island on Thursday evening.

Deputy chief of the Tanjungpinang Police Precinct Sr. Comr. Nasri said here on Friday that Siti Maryam, 60, was believed to have fallen overboard and drowned.

"All 27 of the boat's passengers, including the old woman, fell into the water, but most were able to swim back to Tanjungpinang seaport," he said, while adding that the collision took place a few hundred meters offshore.

Nasri alleged that the collision occurred when the ferry Wave Master 7 on the Tanjungpinang-Singapore route, left port at high speed and ignored a signal given by the other vessel as it was coming into the port.

"We are waiting for the Wave Master's captain to show up for questioning," he added. (--JP)