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Published 14 Oct, 2002 12:00am

Over 187 dead in Bali bombings

JAKARTA, Oct 13: Tourists from as far afield as Europe, South America, Asia and the United States were among the hundreds of victims in the bombing late on Saturday of a packed night spot on the Indonesian resort island of Bali.

President Megawati Sukarnoputri said on Sunday at least 187 people were killed and another 281 injured when a car bomb obliterated two night clubs packed with foreign tourists at Kuta, an international holiday destination better known for its tropical beauty and serenity.

Reports from Bali and Canberra earlier on Sunday suggested that up to 75 percent of the casualties could be Australian nationals. Officials in Canberra said seven dead Australians had so far been identified and 113 more were among the wounded.

Seventeen foreigners were among the 26 bodies identified late Sunday, a doctor with a medical team in charge of identifying the dead said.

Ketut Semara Jaya said the dead include nine Indonesians, eight Australians, three Singaporeans, two British, and one each from France, the Netherlands, Germany and Ecuador.

Indonesian television reports said the number of dead could climb much higher than the 182 already confirmed because search and rescue teams had not yet been able to access an area seriously affected by the blast.

Scores of foreign visitors remain unaccounted for, including 10 members of the Hong Kong Rugby Club, a Hong Kong radio station reported.

Another player has been found injured in hospital, while the female partner of another player had been flown to Australia suffering from burns, the station reported.

Seven expatriate rugby players from Singapore also remain missing, the Singapore Cricket Club said, with a club official telling AFP all seven were British nationals.

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