Lake Toba boat disaster captain detained
Authorities arrested the skipper of an overcrowded Indonesian boat that sank in a volcanic crater lake with the number of passengers aboard now thought to be around 200.
Officials estimate there may be 193 still unaccounted for, which if accurate, would be four times the number of people the vessel was built for.
Boat skipper and owner Tua Sagala was one of only 18 people rescued.
National police spokesman Yusri Yunus said the captain has not been quizzed yet as he is ‘still traumatised.’
The boat was operating illegally, police said, with no passenger manifest or tickets issued.
Criminal charges could follow.
"We see there’s a possibility to begin a criminal investigation because of negligence that resulted in people losing their lives," national police chief Tito Karnavian said.
"The captain may be named a suspect."
Search and rescue teams are awaiting more advanced equipment to search underwater as Lake Toba’s waters are as deep as 400 metres in parts.
It is a flooded caldera of a supervolcano which was formed tens of thousands of years ago after the largest-known volcanic eruption on Earth.
It measures about 100km in length and 30km wide and is becoming increasingly popular with foreign tourists.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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