Jakarta, Nov. 13 (UNI) Eight people were found dead after a ship sank in the Mahakam River in Indonesia’s East Kalimantan province, head of the province’s Search and Rescue Office Dody Setiawan said on Thursday.
The incident occurred on Monday evening when the ship, carrying 28 people, including three crew members, went down in the upstream area of the river in West Kutai Regency, Setiawan said.
Twenty people survived, while eight others were initially reported missing. Before midnight on Wednesday, rescuers discovered the last of the eight victims floating on the river, he added.
“A search and rescue operation was immediately launched, covering up to 15 km downstream. The operation involved 50 rescuers using rubber boats. At about 11:50 p.m. local time Wednesday, all eight missing persons were found dead,” Setiawan told Xinhua by telephone.
He said a strong current and an overloaded ship were believed to have caused the fatal incident. The ship was carrying cement at the time.
