They have been assisted by local community members."
Bandung, West Java (ANTARA News) - A boat carrying asylum seekers from the Middle East capsized in Cianjur and the death toll has risen to 36, according to the West Java police.

"Until now, 36 bodies have been found, while 28 are safe," said spokesperson for the West Java police Martinus Sitompul on Monday.

The bodies found in the waters of Cikole have been taken to Kramat Jati Police Hospital in Jakarta.

"Those who managed to survive have been evacuated to a local command post for accommodation at Hotel Sarah in Sukabumi," he said.

He added that a joint search and rescue team is still continuing its search to find the remaining bodies; it will end its search seven days after the incident.

"They have been assisted by local community members. We will continue searching until the seventh day," he said.

He mentioned that people are scouring the coastal area around Agrabinta village, where the incident took place, as bodies may be floating there.

"We are deploying around 125 personnel, down from 225 personnel," he said.

(Reporting by Ajat Sudrajat/H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/A014)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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