Three dead as boat sinks

TAKALAR, South Sulawesi: At least three people died and six remain missing after a traditional Jolloro boat carrying 18 people sunk after it was hit by strong waves just off North Takalar, between Topejawa and Tanakeke, about 60 kilometers north of the provincial capital of Makassar on Thursday.

Nine people survived the ordeal.

"The boat was overcrowded. This was aggravated by the high waves and bad weather," fisherman Dg Tojeng, a witness, said on Friday. "Several survivors were saved by the local fishermen."

A joint search and rescue team from Hasanuddin University, the police and the local administration immediately commenced a search for survivors.

The boat's captain, Syafaruddin, was found dead at noon on Friday. The search was halted later on Friday due to bad weather.

"Thank God we were saved. I was just trying to save my three little kids and it's a miracle that we all survived," said Muhtar, one of the survivors. (27/edt)