Three people die , 39 rescued so far in Indonesia ferry incident
Three people have so far lost their lives in a ferry accident in central Indonesia, with authorities saying that so far about 40 passengers have been rescued.
The passenger ship was transporting 118 people when it was overwhelmed by high waves during stormy weather on Saturday, said Indonesia’s Transport Ministry spokesman, J.A. Barata, on Sunday.
The boat was on its way from Kolaka to Siwa, two towns on Indonesia’s eastern island of Sulawesi.
Earlier on Sunday, fishermen found four people, including a woman and a child wearing life jackets, who told authorities that their boat had sunk hours after being hit by high waves.
According to Indonesia's transportation Ministry spokesman, Julius Barata, 35 other survivors and three dead were discovered later.
Following the incident, six rescue vessels were dispatched to the site of the sinking about 21 kilometers (13 miles) southeast of Siwa, said Roki Asikin, the head of the search and rescue agency in Makassar, the provincial capital of South Sulawesi, adding that 14 children were among the passengers.
Asikin said it took three hours to evacuate the survivors to the shore due to powerful waves. “These waves were very high,” he said.
Earlier efforts to find the vessel were hindered by rough conditions, after the crew sent a distress call Saturday afternoon reporting an accident. Contact was lost with the ferry shortly thereafter.
Indonesia has seen a number of boat disasters over the past several years, which have killed hundreds of people as ships are often full to the brim while safety regulations are poorly implemented.
Having more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia is heavily dependent on ferry services as a relatively cheap form of transportation.
Earlier this month, a Danish cargo ship collided with a tanker and sank in western Indonesia.
Ambassador: Japan studying recognition of State of Palestine
Indonesia urges UNSC to take 'decisive action' against Israeli regime
Ex-Netanyahu advisor to appear in court over Gaza genocide comments
UNRWA warns of humanitarian collapse in Gaza
'Hello my enemies': Lebanese journalist on Israeli threats and his resolve to continue
Outrage in France as MP proposes bill to ban criticism of Israel
VIDEO | The strategy of Hezbollah in war
Israeli military withdraws several brigades from southern Lebanon: Report
48-year-old Palestinian man serving 48 life terms completes 22 years in Israeli jails
From MKO to Tondar, how Germany became safe haven for anti-Iran terror groups
Hamas open to any proposal aiming to end Gaza war: Hamdan
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
