10 die in Indonesian boat sinking

JAKARTA - At least 10 people were killed and 32 others were missing and feared drowned after a boat sank Monday off a remote eastern Indonesian province, a rescue official and media reports said.

The boat was believed have carried around 80 people when it was hit by high waves near Adonara island off East Nusa Tenggara province, said Madjit Abdul Laduma from the province’s search and rescue agency.

“We have reports from the field that at least 32 people were still missing from the accident,” Laduma said, adding rescue workers retrieved 10 bodies and 47 survivors.

The boat was en route to Lembata island from Adonara.

Media reports quoted a local police officer as saying that the boat was carrying about 75 people, and eight injured survivors had been rescued.

Adonara police chief Abdul Rahman was quoted as saying that the boat swerved after being hit by huge waves, sparking panic among the passengers before it capsized.