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.