Big waves slam coasts from Riau to Java

Oyos Saroso H.N. and Rizal Harahap, The Jakarta Post 5 Jan 08;

High waves swept through the eastern coastal regions of Lampung and Riau and also parts of Java the last few days, wrecking one commercial ship and four fishing boats and leaving two passengers dead.

Dozens of Sulung Putra boat passengers were reported injured, and two others were killed, when the boat was slammed by high waves east of Lampung on Wednesday evening.

The body of one of the two victims, Riza Andriyanto, 11, was found about 200 meters from the wrecked boat on Thursday evening. The body of Irman Siswantoro, 16, has not been found yet.

"The Search and Rescue (SAR) team ... is still searching for Irman," said the Head of Labuhan Maringgai Pos Kuala Penet harbor in East Lampung, Feri Sakhtiawan.

He said the SAR team, helped by police officers, the military and hundreds of fishermen, ran an intensive search throughout the coastal area, but the high waves had finally put a halt to their efforts.

The Sulung Putra was slammed by waves as high as four meters after sailing about three kilometers from Labuhan Ratu village. The passengers were on their way to Kuala Penet village to celebrate the new year.

Strictly speaking the Putra Sulung was a fishing boat, but residents around the Lampung coastal areas use such boats for cheap transportation.

Before the accident, the Lampung Meteorology and Geophysics Agency issued warnings about the possibility of high waves around Lampung, but some residents insisted on sailing.

The agency predicts that in the coming days high waves will occur along the western coastal area of Lampung up to West Sumatra and along the southern coast of Banten in West Java.

High waves also forced the administrators of Bakauheni harbor to stop speed boats from operating. Usually 12 speed boats serve passengers on the route from Bahauheni harbor in Lampung, South Sumatra, to Merak harbor in Banten, West Java.

Head of administration at Bahauheni harbor, Rochadi, said passengers must now use ferries.

In Pekanbaru, four fishing boats were wrecked after being swept by high waves and heavy storms near Teluk Pambang village in Bengkalis regency. One of them was hit Wednesday evening and the three others on Thursday evening.

There were no casualties reported.

One resident of Teluk Pambang village, Rusli, said local authorities had warned residents not to sail, but some fishermen went out anyway.

"They keep on going out because they have to fulfill their daily needs. I hope these incidents will make them be more careful and want to postpone their trips," Rusli added.

The Kupang Meteorology and Geophysics Agency also warned residents to stay away from the beach due to high waves and heavy storms that could occur throughout the region.

The agency predicts the high waves and heavy storms will last until the middle of January.

Yemris Fointuna contributed to this article from Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara.