Traffic flow returns to normal at Bakauheni port

Oyos Saroso, The Jakarta Post, Bakauheni, Lampung

Activities at Bakauheni port in Sumatra were normal on Monday with only a minor traffic jam at the nearby resort area of Pasir Putih in Lampung as motorists began to leave their hometowns to return to cities in Java.

The four-kilometer-long traffic jam was primarily caused by the large number of Lampung residents visiting the coastal resort.

Hasan Aldin, head of transportation company PT Angkutan Sungai, Danau, dan Penyeberangan (PT ASDP) at Bakauheni port, said Monday that his office was operating 21 ferries and 12 speed boats.

"The flow of traffic from and to Sumatra is better than last year," Aldin said, even with an increase of 7 percent in the number of travelers.

He added that the capability of his office in operating ferries has prevented a long queue to the port.

A total of 287,359 people have crossed the Sunda Straits since seven days before Idul Fitri on Dec.6, 2002. In the same period last year, the number of travelers reached 266,235.

Aldin added that the number of people who have crossed the strait between Lampung and Banten had reached 24,000 as of 2:00 p.m. on Monday. It is estimated that the number will increase to 50,000 by midnight on Tuesday. Data from the transport office confirmed the increase in the number of people crossing from Merak, Banten, to Bakauheni.

In contrast to last year, the flow of traffic along Sumatra's main roads was smoother this year. Minor traffic jams occurred in a few areas, mainly at the Layang Natar flyover, railroad crossings and at traditional markets, but generally the situation was normal.

A fatal accident occurred on a major motorway 5 kilometers north of Bakauheni on Saturday, in which four people were killed when a truck carrying steel plates hit a restaurant. The victims were residents in a village close to the seaport.

A number of motorists have expressed concerns about the condition of the roads.

"In some places, the road was slick with mud. Fortunately, there was no landslide," said Rohadi, a traveler from Medan heading for Jakarta. He also regretted the levies imposed on motorists by residents who live near the damaged roads.

Meanwhile, a total of four teenagers drowned on Saturday when swimming off the coast of Terbaya in Kotaagung district, Tanggamus regency, as part of their Idul Fitri celebrations.

Three of the teenagers, Mujiono, 17, Purwanto, 18, and Eko, 18, were residents of Pekon Sinar Agung in Pulaupanggung, Tanggamus. Sal Sabilah drowned off the Marina coast in West Lampung.

The teenagers were swept away so quickly that coast guards were unable to save them. The bodies of Mujiono and Purwanto were found a few hours later on Saturday, while Eko's body was found on Sunday.

Despite warnings from authorities in the resort area, the four went swimming in the coastal waters, which are well-known for its dangerous currents.