135 rescued after ferry sinks in South Sulawesi<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Rescue workers and fishermen searching for the
\ncrew and passengers of a ferry which capsized near Lambasina in
\nSouth Sulawesi on Friday night have found five bodies and 135
\nsurvivors.<\/p>\n
Two of the casualties were identified as Mahmuddin, a 44-year-
\nold native of Bulukumba, and two-year-old Albotur of Kolaka,
\nSouth Sulawesi. The identities of the other three are unknown.<\/p>\n
The victims were found at separate locatins.<\/p>\n
Antara news agency reported on Sunday that the captain of the
\nvessel, Masjidin, was among those rescued in the two-day search
\neffort in Bone Bay.<\/p>\n
With the number of people saved far higher than the total
\nlisted on the manifest, officials wish to query Masjidin, who was
\nreceiving medical treatment for reported distress.<\/p>\n
The 2,000-ton ferry reportedly carried 122 passengers, a crew
\nof 17, nine trucks, six cars and 41 tons of miscellaneous
\ncommodities when it embarked from Bajoe in South Sulawesi. It was
\nlicensed to carry 300 people and 15 trucks.<\/p>\n
Sources told Antara it was common for port officials to allow
\ntheir own or crew members' relatives board a vessel without
\nlisting them on the manifest. \"The extra passengers are not
\nlisted because they do not buy tickets.\"<\/p>\n
Officials said the search and rescue teams, using three
\nferries, would continue their efforts after the finding of
\nunlisted passengers. Local fishermen have helped the search,
\nsaving no less than 30 people so far.<\/p>\n
Most of the survivors have returned to their respective homes
\nin Kolaka and Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, after receiving
\nmedical treatment at the Kolaka state hospital.<\/p>\n
Among them was an Austrian tourist identified as Mag Hauser
\nMarkys.<\/p>\n
Chief of Southeast Sulawesi transportation agency, Mawardi
\nYusuf, said his office was investigating the cause of the
\naccident.<\/p>\n
An air police officer told The Jakarta Post that storms had
\nsunk the boat. Another source said leaks caused by a big wave had
\ncapsized the vessel, while Kompas daily quoted Lt. Col. Edi
\nPermadi, chief of the local police, as saying the ferry sank
\nafter experiencing engine trouble.<\/p>\n
The ferry, owned by local shipping company PT Yuli Rahayu,
\ncapsized four and a half hours into its seven-hour journey. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/135-rescued-after-ferry-sinks-in-south-sulawesi-1447893297",
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