Seven people, including four children, have been confirmed dead and two are still missing after a boat accident that happened in the Kedung Ombo Reservoir in Boyolali, Central Java, Indonesia. While the incident was started by a selfie attempt, the real reason for their deaths was the fact that none of them were wearing life jackets at the time.
Sadly, one mother and her two twins were among those confirmed dead. Central Java inspector general Ahmad Lutfi told reporters that the accident was caused when all 20 people on the ship moved to one side of the vessel for a "selfie" moment while on board.
"The cause of the accident was overcapacity," he said. "The 20 people took a selfie on the right side then the boat lost balance and flipped."
The accident caused all of the passengers to fall into the water. Eleven people were rescued, but seven were found dead. The two others who are yet to be found are presumed dead. According to GMA News Online, law enforcement officers are currently looking to see if there was any negligence by those who were managing the popular boat rides.
The outlet also reports that while tragic, boat accidents like this aren't uncommon in Indonesia. The country has plenty of boat charters that are lax when it comes to safety regulations. If life jackets were made mandatory, it's likely these deaths wouldn't have happened.
The police also reportedly stated that a 13-year-old was in charge of the boat, which makes it seem as if this trip out was destined to fail in some way. While boat outings can be a lot of fun, especially for tourists, the water can be incredibly dangerous — especially for young children.
While it seems scary and a little vain to assume that the accident was caused by a selfie, it's actually that the accident was caused by lack of safety procedures and legitimate direction. Not everyone is capable of piloting a boat. Hopefully, other tourists will see this unfortunate incident and think of safety measures prior to getting on board.
That said, there have been plenty of deaths or injuries caused by the need to take selfies, which should make you think. With Instagram becoming so popular, a lot of people put the need to "prove" their experience to followers over basic safety and common sense. One of the craziest situations happened at a zoo back in 2019.
A woman went to the Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium and Safari Park in Arizona and tried to take a selfie with a jaguar. In order to do so, the woman actually crossed a barrier in the zoo, putting her safety on the line — all for the chance of a photo. Thankfully, she survived her injuries.
Waterfalls are also often dangerous places to take selfies. A 33-year-old French tourist in Thailand fell from the Na Muang 2 waterfall after trying to get a good photo. His friend who was with him said that trying to get the perfect selfie was the cause of the accident.
According to CNN, which reported the death, there have been studies on where the most selfie deaths take place. The most common location is in India. Close behind are Russia, the US, and Pakistan. Shockingly, 72% of the deaths were men who were all under the age of 30, although these incidents can happen to anyone.
The need to take a selfie in the moment boils down to psychology. "Past research found significant — but relatively small — links between taking selfies and narcissism," writes Psychology Today. "Other research has found no substantial link. Still other research has shown a stronger link for men than women. This inconsistency in research results may be because not all selfies are equal."
"Research has shown that narcissistic individuals take more solo selfies, but fewer selfies that feature other people," the publication continued. "And while researchers have focused a lot on how the frequency of selfie-taking relates to personality, few studies have really examined why people take selfies." For many people, it's proof that they went out and had an adventure. For solo travelers, this makes a lot of sense. They're hoping for a mental keepsake from the trip.
The boat accident in Indonesia could have been prevented with a bit of quick thinking and safety precautions in place. Surely, as all of the passengers all piled to one side for the photo, there were likely clues that the boat wasn't capable of handling so much of an uneven weight distribution. Always being on the lookout for signs of distress — either from fellow passengers or the boat itself — is a wise move.
Selfies can be used to share experiences with others. They can also help document a moment. But it's important to always assess the situation before getting ready to pose. While selfie accidents and deaths have been an unfortunate trend, a little bit more awareness could lessen the rate in which they occur.
