At least eleven people have tragically misplaced their lives, and another is presently missing after a ferry accident occurred off the jap coast of Sumatra Island in Indonesia. The national search and rescue agency has disclosed this data as they continue their search operation.
The ferry concerned in the accident was transporting roughly 74 passengers to the small island of Tanjung Pinang positioned in proximity to Singapore. The incident is believed to have occurred about half-hour after the vessel had left the harbour, with a suspected collision with a floating log being the cause for the unfortunate occasion.
As the search and rescue operation for the lacking individual is ongoing, the company has additionally been receiving reports from eyewitnesses who were present at the scene of the accident. The exact circumstances leading to the incident are nonetheless being investigated, and there may be additional updates that present a clearer understanding of how the tragedy unfolded, reports Bangkok Post.
Ferry accidents are not uncommon in Indonesia, which consists of over 17,000 islands that rely heavily on water-based transportation for commuting and trading functions. In an unlimited nation with such a large archipelago, ferries present a critical service in connecting communities throughout numerous islands.
However, Plain has seen numerous maritime accidents all through the years, with overcrowded vessels and poor upkeep of boats being cited as a variety of the leading causes. Additionally, Indonesia’s huge variety of islands makes offering and regulating strict security standards a troublesome task for authorities.
One of the worst ferry disasters in current historical past occurred in 2009 when close to 300 individuals perished after a ferry sank off the coast of the remote island of Sulawesi. There have been other such incidents stretching back many years, like the tragedy in 1996 when greater than 200 lives were misplaced as a result of a ferry sinking within the Java Sea.
Despite these continued incidents within the country, there have been gradual improvements to maritime laws, total surveillance, and vessel upkeep requirements. Nevertheless, Indonesia faces a continuous challenge in anticipating accidents, particularly given the quickly developing financial calls for and transportation wants of the nation..