Boat sinks in Indonesia’s Lake Toba, leaving one dead, dozens missing

At least one person died and dozens went missing when a boat carrying 80 passengers capsized in Lake Toba, a famous tourist destination in Indonesia.
Jakarta (VNA) – At least one person died and dozens went missing when a boat carrying 80 passengers capsized in Lake Toba, a famous tourist destination in Indonesia.

According to local authorities, 19 others were rescued, but the rest were still missing.

Spokesperson of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency of Indonesia Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said that the KM Sinar Bangun boat sank at about 5:30 p.m. as it sailed from Samosir, a volcanic island in the middle of Lake Toba to Parapat town. The survivors were rescued by nearby boats.

It was not immediately clear whether any foreigners were among the passengers. Most of the passengers are holidaymakers enjoying the country's 12-day-long Eid al-Fitr holiday.

The 3,000-square-kilometre lake, which is the largest volcanic lake in the world, is a popular spot for local and international tourists.

Ferry tragedies are common in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands.-VNA
VNA

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