Seven dead, two missing after tour boat capsizes off Central Java, Indonesia

AFP reports that seven people have died while another two have gone missing as a result of a capsizing incident involving a tour boat off the Indonesian province of Central Java on Saturday, May 15.

Local police officials said that the vessel lost balance and overturned after all 20 of its passengers suddenly moved to the starboard side in an attempt to take a group photo of themselves during an excursion in the waters of the Boyolali Regency off Central Java’s east coast.

Search and rescue (SAR) teams that were deployed to the area were later able to pull 11 survivors and seven deceased individuals out of the water. Search operations are still ongoing to locate the last two remaining passengers.

Authorities have meanwhile begun an investigation to identify whether there was any negligence on the part of the boat’s operators.

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