Two die as boat sinks

CIREBON, West Java: Two people died and one went missing after a boat capsized on Tuesday afternoon at Bungko village in Cirebon during a traditional racing event.

Locally dubbed Nadran, the event is a traditional race during which boats race to catch offerings thrown into the sea by another boat.

Jumaroh, 18, and Mustamid, 60, from Grogol village were found dead, while Suminten, 15, from Karang Kendal village, was still missing as of yesterday, Antara reported.

A witness said that a piece of cloth seemed to be caught in the boat's propeller, causing it to remain stationery as it bobbed up and down for at least 15 minutes. A huge wave as high as 1.5 meters suddenly swept over the boat, throwing the passengers overboard.

Police First Lt. Ali Nourma from Ciregon precinct, who witnessed the event, said that most of the victims could not swim.

Members of a nearby boat attempted to rescue the passengers by throwing a rope to them to grab hold of. Unfortunately, another wave jolted the boat, hampering efforts. The second boat's passengers were from the fisherman's village nearby and did not have any problems swimming to safety.

"The first boat's passengers were not used to facing big waves, so they could not breathe when the wave hit them," Ali said. (14)