An overcrowded ferry sank off Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island on Monday, leaving no less than 15 individuals lifeless and one other 19 lacking, say authorities.
On a ship designed for 20 individuals, 40 passengers on board, of which six survived, mentioned the nationwide search and rescue company of their assertion.
Three rubber boats, two fishing boats and 6 divers had been deployed to seek for the lacking individuals, he mentioned.
The reason for the sinking, which occurred at about midnight, was nonetheless unclear.
The boat was touring from Lanto village in Buton Central regency in Southeast Sulawesi province to close by Lagii village when it capsized, Buton’s search and rescue company head Muhammad Arafah mentioned.
“All of the victims have been recognized and handed over to the households whereas the survivors at the moment are being handled in native hospitals,” he added.
Photographs shared by the rescue company confirmed victims’ our bodies coated in material on the ground of the native hospital.
The vessel was ferrying individuals throughout a bay in Muna island, about 200km (124 miles) south of Kendari, the capital of Southeast Sulawesi province.
1000’s of residents had traveled to their villages to have a good time the regency’s ninth anniversary on Sunday, and many individuals had been transported by fishing or passenger boats.
Ferries are a typical mode of transport in Indonesia, an archipelago of greater than 17,000 islands, and accidents are frequent as lax security requirements usually enable vessels to be overloaded with out sufficient life-saving gear.
Further reporting from the wires