Three dead as boat sinks

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)