Jakarta Globe, March 31, 2010
Kuala Lumpur. Police say five Indonesians, including three children, have drowned and 17 others were rescued after their overloaded speedboat sank off Malaysia.
Local police chief Ibrahim Chin says the boat coming from Indonesia’s East Kalimantan province sank Tuesday near Tawau island in Malaysia’s eastern state of Sabah.
Ibrahim says a police sea patrol noticed the accident, believed to have been caused when the boat struck a piece of wood.
Three children are among the five who drowned. Ibrahim says the 18-feet-long (5.5-meter-long) boat had a capacity of 12 people.
He said Wednesday that police are investigating whether any passengers had valid travel documents.
Many Indonesians come to neighboring Malaysia illegally by boat to look for work. Dozens died last year in boat sinkings.
Associated Press
