Monday, 23 November 2009* Rescuers saved more than 240 people aboard a crowded Indonesian passenger ferry that sank Sunday in rough waters off Sumatra island
*29 people have died and at least 17 others were missing
At least 29 people died on 23 November 2009 Sunday when a ferry sank off the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The officials said an unknown number of people were missing, The ferry carries passengers between Riau and Batam island. Strong winds and waves hampered rescue efforts after the ferry sank off Riau province. The ferry was overcrowding during the sinking, however, is common on such ferries.
According to the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation there were 250 survivors from the sinking, which occurred during bad weather. Bambang Ervan, spokesman for the ministry of transportation, said authorities were investigating because the number of passengers did not match those on the ferry's manifest. The ministry said earlier that an estimated 260 people were aboard, while the manifest showed 213 on board, including 15 children, plus 12 crew members.
In recent years, hundreds of people have died in ferry accidents on the boats that connect Indonesia's islands because of overcrowding and the fact that safety regulations are poorly enforced. Before they were rescued, dozens of passengers struggled in rough waters in life jackets as bad weather forced emergency workers to wait for a bigger rescue boat, Bambang said earlier.
The vast country spans more than 17,000 islands, and boats are a popular and relatively cheap form of transportation.
Another ferry sank on its way from Batam. All those passengers were rescued, said Mr. Sunaryo, Directorate General of Sea Transport.
Indonesia has suffered several major ferry accidents in recent years.
In December 2006, a crowded ferry broke apart and sank in the Java Sea during a violent storm, killing more than 400 people.
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Monday, 23 November 2009
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