7 immigrants killed, 14 missing after boat sank in Indonesia

Rescuers have found 7 bodies of immigrants from Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan and searched for about 14 others after a boat sank in waters off West Java of Indonesia on Tuesday morning, police said. Leaking, overload and poor weather condition had been blamed for the accident of the boat with 70 people on board, water police chief at Pangandaran district of West Java named only Rusli told Xinhua by phone. "The boat leaked and it was heavy rains when the accident happened. Besides, the boat was overloaded," said Rusli. The departed from Cilacap of Pangandaran district in West Java at about two o'clock in Tuesday morning, heading to Kupang of East Nusa Tenggara, he said. "At about five o'clock in the morning, six of bodies were found floating on the waters by sailors, two little girls and four women. Another fatality was found hours later. All of the bodies have been brought to the nearby health clinics," Herus Rusman water police officer at Pangandaran water police station told Xinhua by phone. Another water police officer at Pangandaran district police station Hari Pahlevi confirmed that 49 people had been rescued safely. "All of the survivors have been brought to navy station, search and rescue office, and police station," he told Xinhua by phone. Search and rescue for those go missing had been under way, involving water police officers, rescuers from search and rescue office of West Java and sailors, said police chief Rusli. The owner and crews of the boat had been detained by police and declared suspect of the accident, he said. As the boat headed to Kupang of East Nusa Tenggara, it is believed that it may head to Australia the common destination of many illegal immigrants from the Middle East transiting in Indonesia. "According to the information from the owner of the ship, it aims to go to Kupang," said Rusman. Indonesia has been year made as a transit point for those illegal immigrants from the Middle East to go to Australia. Nevertheless, heavy waves at the ocean and lacking of safety standard have frequently hit their small wooden boat that left fatality. Indonesia and Australia have set up a cooperation to combat the people smuggling.