A snorkeling boat carrying 13 people, including 11 Australian tourists, capsized in rough seas off Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on Friday, killing a woman and injuring two others, police said.
According to the AFP, The Sea Dragon boat was on its way from a port in Bali to Nusa Penida, a popular tiny island near Bali, when it was overwhelmed by high waves, local police spokesperson, Agus Widiono, said.
The group was looking at underwater scenery when their boat was hit by a large wave that threw a 39-year-old woman, identified by police as Anna Maree, overboard.
It was followed by a second wave that capsized the boat in Kelingking waters, Widiono said.
A nearby boat was rushed to rescue 12 survivors, including two local crews and two injured tourists from the choppy waters. Rescuers also found the body of Maree, the spokesperson said.
At least two people were rushed to hospital, with one tourist pronounced dead, Ida said. Another was treated for a burn injury.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement that, at least, two Australians were injured and that it was providing consular services to the family of another who was reported dead.
“We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time,” the statement said.
Marine accidents are a regular occurrence in Indonesia, a Southeast Asian archipelago of around 17,000 islands, due to lax safety standards.
In 2018, more than 150 people drowned when a ferry sank in one of the world’s deepest lakes on Sumatra island.
