K

UPANG: A boat carrying hundreds of drums of fuel capsized and sank in the Rote Strait in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) after being hit by waves up to three meters high, authorities reported.

The boat, KM Teluk Intan, was on a journey from Namosain Port in Kupang to Rote Ndao, when huge waves hit it on Wednesday afternoon. Search-and-rescue workers saved seven crew members drifting on the open sea around six hours later. The boat’s captain, Afan Lanu, 34, said the boat capsized after it had been underway for around four hours.

“Suddenly, huge waves hit the ship and it capsized and sank,” Afan said.

The boat was laden with 100 drums of premium gasoline and 25 drums of kerosene, he said.