Death Toll Rises to 14 in North Sumatra Boat Accident

Labuhanbatu, N Sumatra (Antara) - The death toll of Wednesday's boat accident in the Kubung Sei Berombang River, Dei Penggantungan Village, Panai Hilir Subdistrict, Labuhanbatu District, North Sumatra, rose to 14 on Thursday. "Fourteen bodies have been recovered, including one infant," coordinator of the local chapter of the Indonesian Rescuer Alliance (API) Taufik Nasution told Antara on Thursday evening. The ill-fated boat set sail from Air Hitam hamlet, Kualuh Leidong subdistrict, North Labuhanbatu District, after post-fasting Idul Fitri or Lebaran celebrations, to Sei Berombang when the mishap occurred. The boat was sailing in the darkness of the night with thick haze covering the area around the Sei Berombang waters, when it hit a pillar that was usually used for tying fishing vessels in the water. The boat later sank, Taufik said. (*)