The speedboat carrying 33 people overturned at around 11.30 a.m. local time while it was on its way from Mastur village to Relean village in Southeast Maluku district, the Chief of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Office in Ambon, Muslimin said.
The 10-meter long and 2.5-meter wide speedboat capsized after being hit by waves.
Some of the survivors were taken to a hospital.
Most of the passengers were from the Maluku provincial capital of Ambon. They travelled to Relean Village aboard three speedboats to carry out youth activity.
The one other speedboat cancelled a plan to visit the village after learning of the accident.
A joint SAR team comprising personnel from the rescue team of the SAR post in Tual, Tual police resort, Mobile Brigade (Brimob) unit, and Tual water police were rushed to the scene to rescue the passengers.
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Translator: Daniel L/Suharto
Editor: Gusti Nur Cahya Aryani
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