Jakarta, April 18 (IANS): At least seven people were killed and several others went missing Friday after a boat sank in the waters off East Nusa Tenggara province in Indonesia.
The accident took place at 11.10 a.m. when dozens of people on board were performing a religious ritual called "the Great Friday" in the narrow strait of Ujung Aro Larantuka of Florest Timur district, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of national disaster agency told Xinhua over the phone.
Twenty-nine people were being treated at Flores general hospital.
"The sinking of the boat was triggered by overloading and strong currents," he said.
The search for the missing passengers is underway, Sutopo added.