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Rescuers have discovered 17 dead bodies after a boat sank in waters off East Java province on Tuesday, and would continue search and rescue operation on Thursday to find the rest missing people, official said here on Wednesday evening.
As many as 8 people have been rescued safely on Wednesday afternoon as the rescuers halted the operation at 17:00 p.m. due to nightfall and huge waves, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of national disaster agency said.
KM Motor Jabal Nur boat, carrying 49 Indonesians to a wedding in Pemuteran village of Singaraja in neighboring resort Island of Bali, departed from a sea port in Raas island of Madura in East Java province on Monday morning, Head of Search and Rescue Office of East Java province Moch. Hernanto told Xinhua by phone.
The boat collapsed in the Strait of Madura near Raas island in East Java province or at the north of Bali Strait at about 12:00 p. m. Tuesday, Sutopo revealed.
"The boat suffered from broken axle of its propeller shaft that caused the engine and pump to stop functioning," he told Xinhua.
The number of people on board could be more than the report, as it has been common that many passengers do not report themselves during the boat journey in Indonesia.
Rescuers have reported that the boat was missing on Tuesday, but could not confirm on the sinking, rescuer in charge at the national search and rescue office told Xinhua.
Boat and ship are common transport means in the vast archipelago country, but lacking of safety has often caused sea accidents that have killed hundreds of people.
