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Eight dead in Bengkulu boat accident
Bengkulu Search and Rescue Agency Spokesperson Mega Maysilva said that the boat, the KM Tiga Putra, was carrying 98 tourists and six crew members on a trip from Bengkulu City to Tikus Island on Sunday morning, a journey that typically lasts between 40 and60 minutes. The accident occurred around 4 p.m. as the boat was making its return trip to Bengkulu.
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A large wave hits passenger vessel KM Lestari Maju on July 3, 2024, in the Selayar Islands, South Sulawesi. (Courtesy of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB)/File)
E
ight people died and dozens more were injured when a tourist boat capsized near Zakat Beach in Bengkulu City, Bengkulu, on Sunday afternoon.
Bengkulu Search and Rescue Agency Spokesperson Mega Maysilva said that the boat, the KM Tiga Putra, was carrying 98 tourists and six crew members on a trip from Bengkulu City to Tikus Island on Sunday morning, a journey that typically lasts between 40 and 60 minutes. The accident occurred around 4 p.m. as the boat was making its return trip to Bengkulu.
"The boat's engine suddenly failed when it was hit by strong waves and a storm. The vessel began rocking uncontrollably, throwing passengers into the sea before it ultimately sank," he said on Monday, as quoted by Kompas.
Rescue teams from the Bengkulu Search and Rescue Agency, the Bengkulu Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), local police and fishermen were quickly dispatched to the scene to evacuate the victims.
The victims were quickly transported to Bhayangkara Hospital and Harapan dan Doa Hospital for treatment. As of Tuesday, some had already been discharged, authorities said.
The Bengkulu Police are investigating the incident and have already questioned six individuals, including the boat's owner and crew members. Authorities are also reviewing the vessel's operational permit and safety standards.
Preliminary investigations suggest negligence on the part of the ship operators, as the vessel was carrying passengers beyond its maximum capacity.
