Relatives still seek ferry victims

Relatives still seek ferry victims

KOLAKA, Southeast Sulawesi: Dozens of people whose relatives
were aboard a ferry which capsized last week were still looking
for the latters' whereabouts on Wednesday at search and rescue
posts and the local hospital.

Antara quoted the search and rescue team's secretary in
Kolaka, Pieter P., as saying that search operations for victims
of the Nov. 13 accident were still on-going.

"Two members of my family have not been found," Murdin, one of
the people at the hospital said.

The 2,000-ton ferry which was reportedly carrying 122 listed
passengers and a crew of 17 capsized near Lambasina in South
Sulawesi. As of Wednesday eight survivors had been found. Seven
are still in intensive care. Passengers who were relatives of
port officials or crew members were not listed.

Kolaka regent Adel Berty said: "The manifest lists 122 people
while we have found 154 people (including the dead) and many
relatives are still looking for their members," he said.

Various theories have been offered for the cause of the
accident. The local police chief, Lt.Col. Edi Permadi, has blamed
engine trouble while other sources mentioned large waves and
storms. The search operations have combed nearby islands and the
north and south coasts of Kolaka.