Seven dead, including four children after tourist boat capsizes in Indonesia

Indonesian police say they will continue the search until the two tourists still missing are accounted for.
Indonesian police say they will continue the search until the two tourists still missing are accounted for. Photo credit: Getty Images

Seven people have drowned and two are missing after a selfie attempt caused a tourist boat in central Java, Indonesia to capsize. 

The boat, carrying 20 people, was headed to a floating restaurant in the middle of a reservoir when those on board all moved to the front of the vessel to take a selfie.

Central Java police chief Ahmad Lutfi said this imbalance led to the capsize of the overloaded boat on Sunday (local time), reports 7News. 

At the time of the accident, 11 people were rescued and a later search found seven bodies. 

Four of the dead were children and two people are still unaccounted for. 

Lufti said authorities would "continue the search operation to find the other two still missing". 

He added a 13-year-old boy had been driving the boat which didn't have sufficient safety equipment on board.

COVID-19 rules regarding the number of visitors visiting the attraction were also disregarded by the reservoir's management. 

The number of tourists visiting the reservoir had increased due to a five-day holiday marking the conclusion of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.