Immigrant Boat Sinks, Hundreds Still Missing

VIVAnews – The East Java administration estimated at least 217 illegal immigrants are still declared missing after their ship sank off the Indonesian coast of Java on Saturday, Dec 17.  Details on the number of passengers that the boat carried are still unknown. 

Many of the passengers were believed of having been originated from various countries like Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan.  Indonesia has been notorious as a transit point for illegal immigrants from the Middle East seeking sanctuary in Australia. 

It is confirmed that the ship was overloaded. 

Sahrul Arifin, Head of Emergency and Logistics of East Java’s Disaster Mitigation said that only 76 out of 380 passengers were rescued. 

“The ship was seriously damaged after it was hit by huge waves about 90 km or 55 miles offshore,” he said on Sunday, Dec 18. 

Meanwhile, spokesman of East Java rescue team, Hariyadi Purnomo, said 217 passengers are still missing and 38 passengers were rescued. 

There were a woman and several boys 8-10 years of age among the rescued victims.  Most of them suffered from severe dehydration and fatigue from floating at sea for 5 hours.  

The rescued immigrants were then taken to Pelabuhan Perikanan Nusantara’s hall for data record.