SUMMARY
This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
JAKARTA, Indonesia – At least 25 people in Indonesia, including 6 children, have died and 13 are missing in two separate boat sinkings, officials said Thursday, July 31, as millions travel across the country for the Idul Fitri holiday season.
The week of Idul Fitri, which is how Eid al-Fitr is referred to in Indonesia, marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and is the busiest travel period of the year in the world’s most-populous Muslim country. Most people abandon big cities and return to their hometowns to celebrate with family.
A boat carrying 48 people sank on a river on the island of Sumatra late Wednesday after experiencing engine trouble, leaving 6 children and one adult dead, a local police said.
He added that police were scouring the river to find 13 still missing.
A ferry carrying 70 people on a river in Kalimantan sank on Tuesday, with the final death toll put at 18. The rest survived.
“By this morning, all 18 bodies had been recovered,” the local head of search and rescue, Wasino, who goes by one name, told AFP.
The National Disaster Management Agency said police were questioning the ferry crew as there were reports that the ferry might have been operating at overcapacity.
Boat accidents are not uncommon not only in the vast Indonesian archipelago, but also between neighboring Malaysia and Indonesia.
At least 4 boats have sunk since last month as Indonesians working in Malaysia sought to go home for Idul Fitri. Malaysia offered illegal Indonesians safe return home without being prosecuted to avoid them making secret journeys in rickety boats. – Rappler.com
Add a comment
How does this make you feel?
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.