Six killed in boat crash

MANADO, North Sulawesi: Six people were killed when two passenger boats collided in the Talise Strait.

KM Salvador and KM Kalvari, both sailing from Manado to Tagulandang in the Sangihe Talaud, collided on Saturday about five miles before reaching their destination, head of the North Sulawesi Transportation Office Freddy Rorimpandey told Antara.

Three passengers were killed on the spot while the other three were drowned after they fell overboard. Their bodies were found washed ashore the following day. All the six were on board Kalvari.

The identity of three of the six victims were not known because they were not on the ship's manifest.

Rorimpandey said Kalvari's load of 123 passengers, including 13 crew members was still under the maximum load of 126 allowed. But for some reason, the ship only listed 37 passengers on the manifest.

He added that the authorities are investigating the incident. (emb)