JAKARTA, Nov. 2 (UPI) — A speedboat capsized off the coast of Indonesia on Wednesday, killing at least 21 people with another 34 missing.
At least 38 of the 93 passengers survived the accident off Nongsa waters near Batam’s island, The Jakarta Post reported.
The boat was carrying migrant workers and three crew members when it crashed into a reef after being hit by large waves and strong winds, Hardin Nafii with the Regional Disaster Management Agency of Indonesia’s Riau province told CNN.
The boat departed at 3 a.m. from the southern Malaysian state of Johor and was heading to Batam.
“After two hours of sailing, the boat was struck by strong waves and heavy downpour,” one of the survivors, Haryanto, 51, told The Jakarta Post.
A search and rescue team was sent to look for more survivors.
Riau Islands Police chief Brig. Gen. Sambudi Gusdian said he suspects the boat was overloaded and the trip was illegally organized.
