11 killed, 35 missing as ferry sinks off Poso

The Jakarta Post, Ampana

A ferry, carrying twice its maximum load of passengers, capsized in Tomini Bay off Central Sulawesi province, leaving at least 11 people dead and 35 others missing, authorities said.

The bodies of eight of the dead, including an eight-month-old, were recovered in the waters near Tanjung Api, after the incident, which took place on Wednesday at 10:45 a.m.

They have been buried in the town of Ampana, about 196 kilometers northeast of Poso.

The other three victims were found separately off the coast of Batudaka Island near Bomba village.

All of the dead lived on Togean Island.

In all some 127 people survived the mishap, although authorities do not yet have a final figure.

Most of the survivors have returned home to their families after medical checkups.

The KM Wana Bakti had a maximum capacity of about 65 passengers, along with five tons of cargo.

According to Ampana port authorities, at least 152 people were known have been aboard when the ship left Ampana port for Wakai town in Togean Island.

Dozens more also boarded the vessel without tickets, however, so the true number of passengers may never be known.

Poso Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Unggung Chahyono told Antara on Friday that security personnel and rescue workers from the local transportation office were continuing their search for more survivors.

The search and rescue operations were conducted by motor boats in Togean Island.

Unggung urged villagers to alert local authorities if any of their family members may have been among those on the ill-fated ship.

Witnesses said the ship tipped over after it was hit by a powerful wave about 45 minutes out to sea. The ferry eventually broke apart and sank beneath the waves.

Central Sulawesi police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus Sugianto confirmed that "preliminary data" indicates "strong waves and excessive passengers" led to the catastrophe.

The captain of the ship, identified only as Efendy, has survived and was being questioned by Ampana police investigators on Friday, said police; port authorities will also be questioned.

"We want to find out whether the ferry was overloaded from negligence, or with the knowledge of port officials," Unggung said. "This was a fatal mistake which we must get to the bottom of."

Survivors have not said much about how the ferry became overloaded, recounting instead the final, terror-filled moments before it disappeared beneath the water.

One survivor, Ridwan, recalled that after being hit by a strong wave the ship rolled, and then broke up before it sank.

"Suddenly, water flowed into the vessel," he said, "and then it sank."