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Boat capsizes in Riau Islands, 10 dead
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Several Indonesian Navy and Tanjungpinang Search and Rescue team boats look for the five people missing after the boat they were travelling in capsized in Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands, on Aug. 21. The traditional wooden boat, locally known as a pompong, capsized on Sunday morning, killing at least 10 people from a total of 17 on board. (JP/Fadli)
B
ad weather caused a wooden boat to capsize off Tanjungpinang Port, Riau Islands, on Sunday morning, leaving at least 10 people dead, an official has said.
Most of the 17 passengers on board were tourists heading to Penyengat Island, Tanjungpinang Naval Base commander First Admiral S. Irawan said on Sunday. Two passengers survived the incident and five remain missing.
"Heavy rain fell during the trip and the captain could not control the boat, which caused the boat to capsize," he told The Jakarta Post.
The Navy and Tanjungpinang Search and Rescue Team intensified the search for the missing five passengers.
One of the survivors, Resty, 20, told officers that the ticket seller at Bintan Pura Port said the trip was safe despite the cloudy weather in the morning. Penyengat Island is a 15-minute boat ride from the port.
The island is a famous local tourism destination and features one of the oldest mosques in the country, the Grand Mosque of Sultan Riau, which has been named a heritage site. Tombs of the Malay Riau kings are also located on the island.
Not long after leaving the port, strong winds and heavy rain struck the traditional wooden boat, locally known as a pompong, as well as high waves, which caused water to enter the boat. Resty managed to reach the overturned boat and stay afloat before being rescued by crew members of other nearby boats, Irawan said. (rin)
