10 Indonesian migrant workers missing as boat capsizes in Bengkalis waters

Kamis, 23 Januari 2020 15:37 WIB

Pekanbaru SAR team search for the missing Indonesian workers after the boat carrying them from Rupat Island to Malaysia capsized in the waters. ANTARA/HO-Basarnas Pekanbaru

Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA) - A total of 10 Indonesian migrant workers survived, while some 10 others went missing, as a wooden boat carrying the workers capsized en route from Rupat Island in Bengkalis to Malaysia.

"Based on the information we received from the Tanjung Medang Maritime Police, only 10 survived, while the remaining are still missing," Head of the Pekanbaru Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Ishak stated here on Thursday.

The 10 workers in the age group of 25 to 40 came from various regions, including Aceh, Pemalang, Medan, Prapat, Langkat, and Jambi. They are currently receiving medical treatment at the Tanjung Medang public health service in Rupat, Bengkalis.

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Ishak remarked that the migrant workers departed from Rupat Island on Tuesday (Jan 21) at around 9:30 p.m. local time.

He did not furnish further details on whether the Indonesians held legal documents to work in Malaysia.

The boat capsized allegedly owing to a leakage.

Four boats of Basarnas and the Bengkalis police have been deployed to search for the missing passengers.

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