Indonesia Mourning Tourists Killed In Boat Tragedy

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

JAKARTA (Worthy News) – The tourist industry on Indonesia’s Sumatra island has been plunged into mourning after authorities confirmed at least eight domestic tourists were killed and 34 others injured when a wooden vessel sank in Bengkulu province. Previous estimates spoke of seven killed.

Muslikun Sodik, head of the Bengkulu Province Search and Rescue Office, told media that the incident occurred on Sunday at around 16:30 local time.

The boat, carrying 98 local tourists and six crew members, was returning to Bengkulu City from Tikus Island when it sank, witnesses said. The journey typically lasts between 40 and 60 minutes.

“When the ship was approaching Bengkulu City, it experienced engine failure amid bad weather with strong winds and high waves,” Sodik told the media.

“The ship was hit by huge waves, struck a reef, and began leaking before it sank,” he added.

“Seven people were killed, 15 others were rushed to RSHD Bengkulu, and 19 more were taken to the Bhayangkara Police Hospital in the province,” Sodik said.

Christians living in the area told Worthy News that weather may have played a role as there are “a lot of storms on Sumatra island.”

MORE TRAGEDIES

It was the latest tragedy to hit the region after last week at least 12 people were reportedly killed and more than five others injured in a single-vehicle bus accident in Padang Panjang city in West Sumatra province..

The incident involved a bus operated by the Antar Lintas Sumatra (ALS) company, traveling the Medan-Jakarta route. The bus reportedly lost control and overturned after experiencing a brake failure.

“The ALS bus experienced brake failure while moving at high speed. It failed to negotiate a bend and rolled over,” said Arkes Refagus, head of the transport department in Padang Panjang.

He added that the bus rolled to the left and struck a house fence. “The driver survived as he was seated on the right side, while the bus overturned to the left,” Refagus told Chinese news agency Xinhua.

The bus was reportedly carrying 25 passengers. All the victims were transported to two local hospitals.

Separately, in late March, four people were killed and three injured in Sukoharjo Regency when a train and a car collided, officials said.

The accident took place at a railway crossing on Pasarangutar Street. “Seeing this, everyone’s soul trembled,” a journalist commented. Feni Novida Saragih, a spokesperson for Indonesia’s state-owned railway company, said all the victims were immediately rushed to the hospital.

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