Two Americans saved after boat sinks off W. Manggarai

Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang

High tides reaching up to five meters during last week's bad weather in East Nusa Tenggara saw a boat carrying two passengers sink off the West Manggarai coast near Flores Island, a police officer said Sunday.

West Manggarai Police chief Comr. Butje Helo said the "Charisma" was carrying an American couple when it was hit by tides on its way from Australia to Singapore.

The vessel was captained by Elbert Estelle Ford, 63, previously of the U.S. Navy, and his wife Sonia Ann Ford.

The two passengers were saved by members of the Indonesian Navy with help from local police officers.

They rescued the boat soon after an SOS signal was detected via satellite, Butje said.

"The boat departed from Darwin early June, but when it approached Rinca Island near Komodo Island, it was hit by the high tides and sank," Butje said.

Butje explained the American's boat was one of three that had capsized after being hit by the high tides during rough seas on June 26.

The first was the "Terlanjur Sayang", a motorized boat which capsized in Salura Island waters in East Sumba regency.

Its 17 passengers including the boat's captain were found alive Friday.

The second was the "Ombak Biru", a tourist boat carrying 26 tourists, including 10 foreigners, to Komodo Island.

It was capsized off Labuan Bajo waters, Butje said.

One of the boat's crew members Yoppi Septianto, 21, was killed in the accident however all others were safe, Butje said.

Butje said since Sunday afternoon, "Charisma's" whereabouts was still unknown.

A search was being conducted for the boat by the Navy despite rough seas.

"The waves remain high so the search team is experiencing difficulties -- they can not find accident's ordinate spot," he said.

He said the accident took place between one- and two-miles from the nearest seashore.

Head of the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency's El Tari station Albert Kusbagio said Sunday the wind speed off East Nusa Tenggara had already dropped to 35 kilometers per hour from 45 km/hr.

"The slower wind speed has reduced the height of the tides to between 2.5 meters and three meters from at least five meters earlier," Albert said.

The 17 survivors of the "Terlanjur Sayang", who were at sea for four days before being saved Friday, were still in shock.

Two children -- Mertho, 4, and Sahidin, 6 -- were among the survivors and have been collected by their family members.

After a medical check, all 17 survivors were allowed to go home.

"We could tell they were all tired and still in shock," said Adj. Sr. Comr. Arief Yuliman Susetyana, head of East Sumba police.