TEMPO.CO, Larantuka - Seven people were killed when a boat carrying a group of pilgrims on a Good Friday sea procession flipped over on Gonzalu strait in East Flores regency, East Nusa Tenggara, yesterday. Three children and four adults were among the fatalities.
Antara news agency reported the victims were identified as Sister Epifany CIJ, Andreas Gewao Kleden, Marlin Wangge, Antonius Duan, Maria Nogo Weran, Dede Badin and Lodoviku S. Tukan, all of whom are passengers on Nelayan Bakti 74 boat.
"All the boats were overcrowded," said Anton Hajon, 43, one of the witnesses. "The boat had around 90 people in it," said Toni Kleden, the family of the boat owner. Toni said most of the passengers were safe.
"Around 30 passengers were rescued by other boats," Anton said.
The East Flores Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) said 46 passengers of the ill-fated motorboat had been rescued.
Meanwhile, BPBD head, Tini Tadeus, said 29 of the survivors were still being treated at the East Flores General Hospital, while the other 17 had been discharged.
A joint search and rescue (SAR) team conducted a search around the Sempit Ujung Aro Strait to find other passengers still missing, with the exact number still unknown.
The Good Friday sea procession in East Nusa Tenggara has been held for 500 years. The tradition involves dozens of boats and the bringing of Tuan Meninu (a statue of baby Jesus) from Rewindo beach to Larantuka, the seat of East Flores regency.
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