Three killed, one missing South Sulawesi boat sinking

Andi Hajramuni ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Makassar  |  Sat, 02/28/2009 2:24 PM 

 

Three people drowned and one went missing when a crowded wooden boat sank on waters of Badi Island in South Sulawesi at around 8:00 a.m. local time on Saturday.

 

The boat, which carried 36 people, sank only 10 minutes after it was leaving a pier in Badi Island for Paotere Seaport in Makassar.

 

Adj. Sr. Comr. Halik Abhan, the local police chief, said 31 passengers had been rescued and were now in Badi Island, while the police were arresting the boat's captain for questioning.

 

“We are suspecting that the boat was overcrowded. The boat only had 15 to 20 passengers capacity,” he said.

 

The police, with help from the local navy and residents, have sent search and rescue team to look for 40-year-old Supriadi, the missing passenger. (dre)