Seven killed in Indonesia boat explosion

[News_Editor]

Seven killed in Indonesia boat explosion

2011-07-17 03:37:17 GMT+7 (ICT)

JAKARTA (BNO NEWS) -- Seven officials were killed and two others were seriously injured when a patrol boat belonging to the customs office exploded on Friday night in western Indonesia, rescuers said on Saturday.

Xinhua news agency reported that the accident took place at Pantai Labuh beach in Deli Serdang district in North Sumatra before starting engine. The officials were set to patrol to prevent smuggling before the explosion occurred.

"Four bodies of the officials were found at the site on Friday night, but the other three were recovered on Saturday morning. Two others were being treated in a nearby hospital," Dianta Bangun, head of search and rescue office in North Sumatra, told Xinhua by phone.

Bangun added that the reason behind the blast is still unknown.

Last month, 27 people died after an Indonesian boat capsized off the island of Kalimantan. The accident took place some two hours after the ship had left the Panjang port in Kotabaru, when strong waves crashed into the KM Martasiah, which was also carrying various goods such as motorcycles and household appliances.

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