Jakarta, July 16 -- Indonesia's Transportation Ministry reported that waves reaching four meters in height had caused a wooden speedboat carrying 18 people to capsize in the Sipora Strait off Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra, on Monday.

"The boat was reported to have sunk between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. local time due to waves reaching four meters in height," Transportation Ministry's Sea Transportation Director General Muhammad Masyhud remarked.

According to the Sikakap Fishing Port Authority, all 18 people on board survived the accident and were evacuated to Tuapeijat, the capital of Mentawai Islands District, he remarked.

"They were evacuated to Tuapeijat Port using the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) vessel," Masyhud r...