Indonesia boat capsize claims eight lives, 13 missing

Published: January 01, 2018 14:44:57 | Updated: January 02, 2018 12:57:59

Rescuers attempt to bring a speedboat that sank off Tarakan Island to the surface after it was towed towards the shore in North Kalimantan. (AP photo used for representational purpose)

Eight people have been killed after a boat carrying 48 passengers including children sank off Indonesia’s Kalimantan Island on Monday, rescue officials said.

The national rescue agency said in a statement that 13 passengers remained missing while the rest had been rescued.

A Reuters report says the boat was on its way from Tanjung Selor to Tarakan on the Indonesian side of Borneo Island, when it overturned and sank.

It was not immediately clear what caused the accident.