Search continues for 5 missing passengers

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Rescue workers continued on Sunday their effort to locate five people, who went missing after a small wooden ship sank Friday in Ende waters in East Nusa Tenggara.

As of Sunday, 17 victims were found dead, while 44 others survived the accident.

The ship, KM Karya Terang sank off the cape of Watumanuk on Flores island as it was traveling from Palue, a small island off the island’s northern coast, to Maumere.

A member of the rescue team, Ferdi Ndun, said Sunday the dead passengers were found in Dondo waters, east of Maumere. “Six of dead passengers were men, eight women and three children,” he said.

The cause of the accident remained unclear, but the ship was sailing in heavy waves against a strong current. — JP