| NEWS ARCHIVES |
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| Singaporeans stranded in Tanjung Balai due to bad weather |
| 24 Nov 2009 |
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A few hundred Singaporeans might be affected because of the cancellation of ferry services between Singapore and Tanjung Balai in the Riau islands.
Peter Lim, general manager of Indo falcon, the sole ferry operatior, said the ferries had been cancelled since Sunday due to stormy weather.
The last ferry on Sunday departed at 1.30pm with an estimated 50 passengers from Singapore.
Mr Lim said one ferry was scheduled to leave for Tanjung Balai today with 77 passengers from Singapore - but it was cancelled.
Another ferry leaving Tanjung Balai for Singapore had to abort the trip 10 minutes into its journey.
Mr Peter Lim.
"The port is totally closed. There is no sea traffic from Tanjung Balai to Singapore or any of the Indonesian islands. "
One Singaporean businessman, Lau Heng Chai, had been stranded in Tanjung Balai since Saturday.
He had wanted to take one of the three daily ferry services back to Singapore at 11am.
"They say that there is no boat going to Singapore because of the accident so i wait untill now and i'm still stuck at Tanjung Balai."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and their mission in Indonesia is monitoring the situation closely and have been informed that Tanjong Balai ferry terminal will remain closed until sea conditions improve.
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