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Ferry sinks off Indonesian island Indonesia ferry sinks in squall
(30 minutes later)
A ferry carrying more than 200 people has sunk off the coast of Sumatra in Indonesia, officials say.A ferry carrying more than 200 people has sunk off the coast of Sumatra in Indonesia, officials say.
One person is reported to have died, but dozens more are said to have been rescued by nearby boats. A search operation is underway for the missing. One person is reported to have died, but dozens more are said to have been rescued by nearby boats.
Officials blamed the incident, which happened early on Sunday, on bad weather and high waves. A search operation is underway for the missing. Officials blamed the incident, which happened early on Sunday, on bad weather and high waves.
They said the ferry was travelling from Batam island to Dumai in Riau, Sumatra, when it sank.They said the ferry was travelling from Batam island to Dumai in Riau, Sumatra, when it sank.
Local police said that the ferry rolled over before capsizing, about 90 minutes into its voyage. Fifteen children were among those believed to be on board, they said. The Dumai Express 10 ferry rolled over before capsizing about 90 minutes into its voyage. According to its manifest, 15 children were among about 240 people on board.
They said as many as 178 people were thought to have been rescued by boats which sailed to the scene, reports the BBC's Karishma Vaswani from Jakarta. The police chief of the Riau islands told the BBC that a search and rescue operation in the area had pulled at least 178 survivors from the waters.
RECENT MARITIME DISASTERS 11 Jan 2009: At least 232 people - possibly many more - die as ferry sinks off Sulawesi11 July 2007: Passenger ship with 70 on board sinks off eastern Indonesia 22 Feb 2007: At least 42 die as ferry catches fire30 Dec 2006: More than 400 lost as ferry sinks between Borneo and Java7 July 2005: About 200 die as ferry sinks off eastern Indonesia Indonesia's public transport perils
They are now safe and onboard another boat, police said.
Another ferry, the Dumai Express 15, was reported to have run aground in bad weather as it travelled between Batam and Moro islands.
All 278 passengers and crew on board were said to be safe.
Ferry accidents linked to over-crowding and poor vessel maintenance kill hundreds of passengers in Indonesia each year.Ferry accidents linked to over-crowding and poor vessel maintenance kill hundreds of passengers in Indonesia each year.
The country's large population is spread out over 17,000 islands and relies on ships and ferries to travel around.The country's large population is spread out over 17,000 islands and relies on ships and ferries to travel around.
In the last three years, at least 800 people have been killed in ferry accidents in Indonesia.In the last three years, at least 800 people have been killed in ferry accidents in Indonesia.
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