TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A wooden ferry en route from South Mangoli Island to Sanana District in Sula Regency, North Maluku, sank after it was hit by large waves. Out of the 30 passengers on the boat, 14 has died in the incident, while seven more are still missing. This incident marks the fourth incident since 2013 in Maluku waters.
The longboat - which had a capacity of 40 people - sank after it was hit by a three meter wave as it approaches the port in Bajo village in Sanana district on Sunday, 07.45 Eastern Indonesia Time. The longboat had left from the port at the village of Ori in South Mangoli district.
According to Sula Archipelago district chief, Police Adj. Sr. Comr. Hadi Waiyono, the accident is purely caused by the weather. The longboat sank after it encounter engine failure as it approaches the port in Bajo. “When the engines cut out, the three meter wave hit the boat,” said Hadi.
Hadi explained that the majority of the deceased are senior citizens, while children accounts for the majority of the missing. “We are still conducting a search for the seven missing passengers,” said Hadi.
Sula Archipelago’s regent, Ahmad Hidayat Mus, said that longboats are often used to ship produces to be sold in Sanana, Sula’s capital. According to Ahmad, the adverse weather are caused by a tropical cyclone, which causes high waves and strong winds.
Previousluy, the deadliest incident happened on January 5, 2013, when a longboat sank after it was hit by high waves on the waters of Tanimbar Kei, Southeast Maluku, which killed seven people, and sent one passenger missing.
BUDHY NURGIANTO | URSULA FLORENE SONIA