Three more victims found after boat accident

Kasparman, The Jakarta Post, Padang, West Sumatra

The number of victims from a boat accident on Sunday morning totaled seven as three more bodies were found on Monday in the Batang Anai river. Of a total 12 passengers, all but one of whom were students at a Padang-based nursing academy, three are known to have survived so far and two are still missing.

Antara reported that police have detained the boat's helmsman, Adrizal. He was quoted as saying that the boat capsized shortly after one of the students stood up to take pictures after the boat was some 10 meters from the shore. Adrizal, who claimed he had warned the students beforehand, said he managed to rescue three survivors -- Aria Anwar, 21, Roskian, 24, and Silvia Sandra, 21. He then swam to the shore to take another boat but the victims had already disappeared in the water.

The boat had capsized amid strong currents and unexpected rapids in the four-meter deep river.

During Monday's search the body of Ernita Anwar, 18, was discovered at around 1 p.m. after earlier locating the remains of Dessi Amsiawati, 22, and Alex Sahid Wadi, 21. Ernita, or Een, was the only high school student. The search has been hampered by rainwater and runoff from upland areas, apart from the murky waters and riverbank mangrove forest.

The two missing victims are Zul Hendra, 21, and Junainah Kado, 21. Head of the search and rescue team, Dedek Nuzul Putra, said the search would continue for another three days.

"We hope the temperature will remain high so the victims' bodies will float," Dedek said.

The students had aimed to go to the White Sand Beach resort near Central Koto subdistrict.