Ruslan Sangadji
One person has been confirmed dead and 15 others are still missing at sea after a boat with 21 people aboard capsized on its way from East Kalimantan to Tolitoli regency in Central Sulawesi in the early hours of Thursday, a police officer said.
Tolitoli Police chief Adj. Comr. Immanuel Larosa said six passengers were rescued by a fishing boat that happened to be nearby. On the way to Tolitoli, however, one of the six died, he said.
Larosa said the incident was "inevitable" after large waves hit the vessel amid bad weather. As of Thursday night, information was not available as to the exact location of the capsized boat.
The lack of a manifest prevented police from identifying the victims, Larosa said, expressing his belief the 15 missing passengers were very likely dead due to the rough seas.
Despite the pessimism, he said police officers and local residents were continuing the search for the missing passengers.
He said the 21 people aboard the boat were originally from Dongingis village in Tolitoli, but had migrated to Kalimantan where they had lived for years. "They were returning to visit family, but unfortunately they chose the wrong boat," the officer said.
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