11 feared dead in boat accident

Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang

Eleven people are feared dead after a motorized boat capsized in rough waters Tuesday on its way to Salura Island in Karera district, East Sumba regency, an official said Thursday.

A search involving fishermen and a search and rescue team was unsuccessful as they were confronted by high waves reaching five meters.

The Terlanjur Sayang boat, which left Katundu harbor, is thought to have capsized after being hit by strong waves.

An official in Sumba, Marthen Kilimandu, said the search could only be conducted by using simple available equipment.

"We're only able to use small fishing boats since it's hard to reach the site of the accident. The waves are very high and have created difficulties for those involved in the search since Wednesday," he said.

The boat was carrying 11 people and 40 bags of cement.

"We will continue the search but fear those missing are likely to have been swept away by strong currents."

Meanwhile, the El Tari Meteorology and Geophysics Agency station in Kupang has warned captains and fishermen of high waves.

"In the sea south of East Nusa Tenggara and in the Timor Sea, the waves can reach five meters high due to strong winds. These conditions are expected to persist over the next five days," office head Albert Kusbagio said.

He said wind speeds were fluctuating between 15-45 kilometers per hour.

The strong winds, he said, are occurring due to a change in air pressure between the province and the land mass of Australia.

According to satellite images, waves had reached five meters high in the Timor Sea, while in Kupang, Semau and Rote waters, they had reached four meters.

But in Sawu and Flores seas, the waves have only reached about one to 2.5 meters."