[ad_1]
SELAYAR, INDONESIA (AFP) – Nearly three dozen people died after a ferry crashed off the coast of Indonesia, according to an official report updated Wednesday, July 4, the latest fatal maritime accident in the southeast The Asia Archipelago
The KM Lestari was carrying nearly 190 people when damage to its hull forced the captain to immobilize the ship Tuesday afternoon at around 300 meters from the island of Selayar, near the island of Sulawesi
. from the scene showed terrified passengers hung on the edge of the overturned ferry, while others floated in the sea waiting for help.
Waves submerged the deck of the boat, sweeping trucks and other vehicles on the ferry overboard.
The Indonesian Disaster Agency said that 34 people had died in the accident while 155 passengers had been rescued, he added.
A fleet of small boats, including local fishermen He added that most of the passengers had been wearing lifejackets.
"The captain and the owner of the ship were the last. Agus H. Purnomo, a director of the Ministry of Transport, said in a statement
that the 48-meter vessel was sailing from Sulawesi to the nearby island of Selayar when strong winds and violent waves caused [19659002] Captain intentionally beached boat near shore to reduce number of casualties, Department of Transport says
Authorities warn that shipowner could face charges
"If the boat is not fit to sail, we will take firm action against the operator," said Budi Karya Sumadi, Minister of Transport, in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi. A sum of US $ 2 million (US $ 2.7 million) in rupees for a Selayar branch will be paid as a bonus to local officials.
Money was withdrawn from the ship on Wednesday, still carefully t packed in seven bags of jute.
The incident occurs the same day the authorities officially canceled the search for more than 160 people missing after another ferry sank on a volcanic lake in Sumatra two weeks ago.
The ship reportedly operated illegally without demonstrating and not enough lifejackets when it disappeared into the depths of Lake Toba, a scenic tourist site.
While some bodies were recovered, many are believed to be trapped inside the ship at the bottom of one of the deepest lakes in the world. , which plunges 500 meters into the spots.
Deadly shipping accidents are not uncommon in Indonesia, where many people depend on boats to bypass the 17,000 island nations despite lax safety standards.
More than 300 people are estimated to have drowned in 2009 when a ferry sank between the Sulawesi and Borneo islands.
[ad_2]
Source link
