17 bodies still missing off Lombok

LOMBOK TIMUR, West Nusa Tenggara: Search and rescue teams as of yesterday morning had recovered 25 bodies from the ill-fated Bahana Nusantara ferry which sank in the Alas Straits on June 25.

Antara reported from Kayangan harbor that the last body recovered was found in the morning by a local fisherman.

The ferry sank while on a routine trip from Poto Tano harbor on Sumbawa island to Kayangan on Lombok.

It was known to be carrying 94 passengers and crew and 17 vehicles.

There was definite word of for how long rescue teams would continue to search for the 17 people who remain missing.

No formal explanation of the cause of the accident has yet been issued, however Antara quoted sources who questioned the condition of the ferry and who pointed out that the ship was known to be unstable in the water.