Boat accident kills 15, 15 more missing..

Boat accident kills 15, 15 more missing
The Associated Press , Jakarta | Tue, 09/22/2009 3:20 PM | National

High waves sank a wooden boat in waters off Halmahera Island in North Maluku, killing 15 passengers and leaving 15 more missing, the navy said Tuesday.

Rescue operations saved 29 of the 59 passengers after the boat went down late Monday in waters in the eastern part of the archipelago, Marine Private Iwan Widodo told The Associated Press from Ternate, capital of North Maluku.

"Bad weather and high waves caused the boat to sink," Widodo said. "We are hoping to find more of the people who are still missing."

Ferries are a main source of transportation in Indonesia, the world's largest archipelagic nation with more than 17,000 islands and a population of 235 million. Accidents at sea are common due to overcrowding and poor safety standards.


JP