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JAKARTA, May 7 (AFP)-At least 18 people were killed and dozens of other passengers were missing on Sunday when a ship with some 200 people on board sank off the eastern Indonesian island of Ambon. "According to the latest data gathered by the military, 18 people are confirmed dead," said Colonel Iwa Budima, Maluku military spokesperson. He said that 43 surviving passengers had been taken to nearby clinics. The state Antara news agency put the death toll at 21, but the figure could not be confirmed. The "Masnait" was sailing for Waipirit port on Seram, an island in the Malukus chain, when it was engulfed by huge waves and sank near Tanjung Tial off Ambon, a naval official who identified himself as Eko reported. According to Budiman, a search operation involving police and military personnel was halted Sunday as heavy rain, and inadequate equipment and manpower made it impossible to continue. "The weather is not friendly. Besides, in the absence of a search and rescue [SAR] team, it is beyond our personnel's capability," Budiman said. The ship was carrying an estimated 200 passengers along with four cars, and supplies of cement and fertilizer, he added. Eko said navy ships, helped by private fishing and ferry boats from villages on the Haruku Strait, were deployed to search for others still missing. Antara said four survivors, including two women, later died on the way to the Halong naval hospital in Ambon. Only two victims had been identified. The agency quoted Ano Tuatanasse; one of the survivors, as saying the ship was overloaded. "I and other passengers swam ashore and, praise be to God, I was rescued by a Muslim resident ... using a traditional boat," said Tuatanasse. Tuatanasse said the ship began its voyage on Saturday night from Ambon's port of Gudang Arang, but it returned to dock soon afterwards when water started to swamp its bows. The voyage resumed early the next day after three cars had been unloaded. Ambon and other islands in the Malukus have been ravaged by clashes between Muslims and Christians for more than a year, which have left more than 3,000 dead. |
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