Students missing in Rancabuaya

BANDUNG: Five students of the Design and Arts School of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) are missing after their rubber boat was hit by strong waves in waters off Rancabuaya beach, Garut regency, West Java, on Saturday noon.

The boat was carrying seven vacationing ITB students when it capsized 700 meters from the beach.

Two managed to survive while the fate of the other five is unknown. The five missing have been identified as Muhammad Nur Arief, Heri Supriyadi, Yoko Laksmana, Lucky Daim Kasim and Bayu Mulyana.

A rescue operation was continuing on Sunday afternoon, but has so far failed to yield results.

According to rescue coordinator Col. Darmawan, the team were using patrol boats and a helicopter to comb area off Rancabuaya and Pameungpeuk, located about 100-kilometers south of Garut. (25/edt)