A ferry with 40 people on board sank off the Indonesian coast. At least 15 people were killed. The search for 19 missing persons is still ongoing. Only six passengers have been rescued so far.
A ferry sank off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi around midnight. At least 15 people died, authorities said. The search for another 19 missing people is still ongoing, rescue workers said. Three rubber dinghies, two fishing boats and six divers are being deployed to find the missing, said Buton search and rescue agency chief Muhammed Arafah. So far, six passengers have been rescued from the rough sea. They were taken to the hospital for treatment.
According to the information, there were 40 people on the wooden boat, although it was only designed for 20 people. The cause of the accident is still unclear. According to the authorities, the weather was good and the waves were moderate.
Indonesia is an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands. Ferries are a common mode of transportation. Accidents are common due to lax safety standards. In addition, the ferries are often overcrowded.