Sampit, Central Kalimantan  (ANTARA News) - The bodies of nine people who drowned after a speed boat with 40 passengers on board capsized in Central Kalimantan on Wednesday (Aug 24), have been found, a police officer said.

The speed boat accident killed nine people and the bodies of all of them have been recovered, Adjunct Commissioner Sumarya of the Central Kalimantan water police, said here on Friday.

The last two bodies were found by local fishermen on Friday morning at a location not far from the accident`s site.

The nine victims were identified as Krisno Mulyo Utomo, Tugiyati, Rudi, Rumaningsih, Doni, Sri Wilujeng, Nur Huda, Nisa and Wika Mareta Pangesti.

On the day of the tragic accident (Aug 24), five bodies were found and later buried in Sampit on Thursday (Aug 25) in one grave. Another body was discovered on Thursday.

The victims were members of one family who had just arrived from Surabaya, East Java, to celebrate Idul Fitri in Pegatan, Katingan Kuala sub district, Katingan District, Central Kalimantan.

"The joint Search and Rescue (SAR) team involving personnel of the Central Kalimantan water police, the Katingan Kuala police office, the Kotawaringin Timur and Pegatan ferry seaport authorities, the Samuda Naval post, Mentaya Hilir Selatan sub district, Kotawaringin Timur District, has stopped the search efforts because all of the victims` bodies were found," he said.

Executive Administrator of Sampit Seaport Edi Sumarsono said the operation of the ill-fated speed boat to carry passengers was illegal because it did not have a permit.

Katingan water police spokesman Adjunct Commissioner Sudirman said here on Thursday that the speedboat carrying Lebaran holiday travelers was engulfed by huge waves at Cemeti strait between Kotawaringin Timur and Katingan districts at 8.30 local time on Wednesday.

Sudirman said the ill-fated speed boat, skippered by Aliansyah, left Mentawai Baru Hilir in Kotawaringin Timur district at 7 in the morning for Pegatan in in Katingan district but 90 afterward it was hit by big waves and then capsized at Cemeti strait.
(Uu.F001/HAJM)