Five dead, five others missing amid rough seas in Flores

Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang

A cargo ship sank in rough seas in Bonerate waters near Flores Island killing three people and leaving five missing, while the turbulent waters also killed two swimmers, officials and witnesses said Monday.

The KM Surya Jaya sank after leaving Flores island bound for Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Sunday with 15 crew on board, East Flores Deputy Regent Joseph Lagadoni Herin said.

"Three people were found dead and seven survivors have been evacuated to shore," Herin said, adding that a search was still underway for the five missing crew.

Meanwhile, waves swept holiday-makers off one of the island's beaches late on Sunday, policeman Syamsul told AFP.

"A huge wave came in suddenly while people were swimming at the beach. I heard people screaming for help but another policeman and I were dragged into the sea as well," he said.

He said he and his friend were saved but that the incident killed two high-school students, as strong seas lashed islands right across Indonesia's east.

The local meteorology office warned of waves as high as six metres and winds of up to 50 kilometers per hour.

Torrential rains have inundated Indonesia's main island of Java over the past week, killing scores of people in landslides and displacing thousands following floods.

High seas and wild weather are not unusual from December to February in Indonesia, when the rainy season hits a peak across the world's fourth most populous nation.