At least 2 dead and 24 missing after the sinking of a fishing boat in Indonesia

2024-03-13 07:06:02

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — At least two people are dead and 24 are missing following a fishing boat carrying 37 people capsized in heavy surf near the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, rescuers said Thursday.

The Dewi Jaya 2 was sailing from a port in Jakarta to the island of Lombok, near Bali, loaded with tons of fish when it was overwhelmed by large waves during a storm following midnight on Saturday, according to a statement from the National Search Agency. and Rescue.

The ship capsized in Bone Gulf, regarding 52 nautical miles from the port of Benteng in the Selayar island chain, near South Sulawesi province, the statement said.

After local fishermen reported the accident on Sunday, rescuers found 11 survivors, including the captain, stranded in various parts of the Selayar Islands. They also found two bodies there.

“The survivors have been treated at nearby health centers and are in stable condition,” the agency said. Rescuers were searching for 24 others who were supposedly missing following using inflatable boats, the agency said.

Hundreds of people have died in maritime accidents in Indonesia in recent years. Ships are often overloaded and safety regulations are inconsistently applied. The vast country encompasses more than 17,000 islands with a population of 270 million people, and boats are a popular and relatively cheap means of transportation.

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