7 Killed, 34 injured as tourist boat sinks off Indonesia's Bengkulu Province

Seven domestic tourists were killed and 34 others injured after a wooden vessel sank in Indonesia's Bengkulu province, a senior rescuer said on Monday.

Muslikun Sodik, head of the Bengkulu Province Search and Rescue Office, stated that the incident occurred on Sunday at around 16:30 Jakarta time. The boat, carrying 98 local tourists and six crew members, was returning to Bengkulu City from Tikus Island when it sank.

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

"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.

xinhua