Rescuers save 240 from ferry
Source: Agencies |
November 23, 2009, Monday
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RESCUERS saved more than 240 people aboard an Indonesian passenger ferry that sank yesterday in rough waters off Sumatra island, but at least 29 people have died and 17 are missing, officials said. Search operations were called off after nightfall.
A second ferry was still stranded in nearby waters after running aground, but all its passengers were said to be safe.
Rescue teams found 29 bodies, including those of two children, according to the latest reports, said Daniel, an official from the local search and rescue agency who like many Indonesians uses only one name. A total of 243 survivors from the boat were rescued, he said.
It was unclear how many people were aboard the Dumai Express 10 ferry. Police and navy officials said the manifest listed 228 people, including 15 children, and 14 crew, but the number of people accounted for has already exceeded those numbers.
The ship had a capacity of 273, but it is not uncommon for ferries in Indonesia to be overloaded.
Authorities called off search and rescue operations in the rough sea after nightfall, said Yasin Kosasih, a local police chief coordinating the rescue mission.
"Considering the weather condition and the dark, we will resume the search tomorrow morning," Kosasih said.
High waves had made the rescue operation difficult, which at its peak had at least nine ships and several fishing boats searching the choppy sea. Local television news showed two survivors, wearing life jackets, floating on the water.
The ferry left on an inter-island voyage yesterday morning and sank in stormy weather 90 minutes into the trip from Batam to Dumai in Riau, a province off Sumatra island in western Indonesia. The area is about 900 kilometers northwest of Jakarta.
The ship sank about 30 minutes after huge waves hit its bow and water started seeping in, according to a report from the ship's captain, said Lieutenant Colonel Edwin, the local navy chief.
Passing boats picked up dozens of those rescued and took them to nearby islands for medical treatment.
A survivor, who only gave his name as Riki, said he escaped from the ship by breaking a window and was rescued by fishermen, the official news agency Antara reported.
"It was too fast ... and the ship crew did not tell us about the situation at all," he said. "We only managed to get out after I broke the glass window on the right side. That was the only way because there were many people jostling for the doors."
In the separate accident yesterday, the Dumai Express 15 ferry with 278 people on board ran aground on its way from Batam to Moro island in Sumatra. No one was hurt, said local police chief Yasin Kosasih.
Indonesian ferry accidents have killed hundreds of people in recent years.
A second ferry was still stranded in nearby waters after running aground, but all its passengers were said to be safe.
Rescue teams found 29 bodies, including those of two children, according to the latest reports, said Daniel, an official from the local search and rescue agency who like many Indonesians uses only one name. A total of 243 survivors from the boat were rescued, he said.
It was unclear how many people were aboard the Dumai Express 10 ferry. Police and navy officials said the manifest listed 228 people, including 15 children, and 14 crew, but the number of people accounted for has already exceeded those numbers.
The ship had a capacity of 273, but it is not uncommon for ferries in Indonesia to be overloaded.
Authorities called off search and rescue operations in the rough sea after nightfall, said Yasin Kosasih, a local police chief coordinating the rescue mission.
"Considering the weather condition and the dark, we will resume the search tomorrow morning," Kosasih said.
High waves had made the rescue operation difficult, which at its peak had at least nine ships and several fishing boats searching the choppy sea. Local television news showed two survivors, wearing life jackets, floating on the water.
The ferry left on an inter-island voyage yesterday morning and sank in stormy weather 90 minutes into the trip from Batam to Dumai in Riau, a province off Sumatra island in western Indonesia. The area is about 900 kilometers northwest of Jakarta.
The ship sank about 30 minutes after huge waves hit its bow and water started seeping in, according to a report from the ship's captain, said Lieutenant Colonel Edwin, the local navy chief.
Passing boats picked up dozens of those rescued and took them to nearby islands for medical treatment.
A survivor, who only gave his name as Riki, said he escaped from the ship by breaking a window and was rescued by fishermen, the official news agency Antara reported.
"It was too fast ... and the ship crew did not tell us about the situation at all," he said. "We only managed to get out after I broke the glass window on the right side. That was the only way because there were many people jostling for the doors."
In the separate accident yesterday, the Dumai Express 15 ferry with 278 people on board ran aground on its way from Batam to Moro island in Sumatra. No one was hurt, said local police chief Yasin Kosasih.
Indonesian ferry accidents have killed hundreds of people in recent years.
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