18 bodies found at sea

18 bodies found at sea

PEKANBARU, Riau: Fishermen found 18 bodies over the last three days, all floating in the waters off Bagan Siapiapi and Panipahan in the Rokan Hilir regency.

The bodies were likely to be the missing victims of the ferry KM Mutiara Indah that sank in the waters off Tanjung Balai Asahan on Feb. 25, said Bangko Police district chief Pvt. Drajat on Friday.

Packed with 140 passengers, the ferry caught fire when its cooling system broke down. It then capsized in rough seas two hours before it would have reached Tanjung Balai Asahan.

Officials have said that at least 44 bodies were found. Another 26 victims are still missing.

The waters off Bagan Siapiapi and Panipahan, where the recent 18 bodies were found, are near Tanjung Balai Asahan.

After floating for almost two weeks, the bodies, two of which were women, were in a bad condition. Police could not identify all of them. -- Antara