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Indonesia ferry sinks in squall Indonesia ferry sinks in squall
(about 1 hour later)
A ferry carrying more than 200 people has sunk off the coast of Sumatra in Indonesia, officials say. Almost 300 people have been pulled from the sea after a ferry sank 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. But four people were killed and officials said many more remained missing after the accident, which happened early on Sunday.
A search operation is underway for the missing. Officials blamed the incident, which happened early on Sunday, on bad weather and high waves. Officials blamed the incident on bad weather and high waves.
They said the ferry was travelling from Batam island to Dumai in Riau, Sumatra, when it sank. It appears that the ferry, which reportedly had a capacity of 273 people, was overloaded when it sank.
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. According to its manifest, 240 people were on board the Dumai Express 10 ferry when it sailed.
But Indonesia's sea transport director-general, Sunaryo, called the disparity between the manifest and reality "large" and described it as "a classic case" of rule-breaking.
He said rescue efforts were being hampered by bad weather.
"The waves are as high as six metres, it's difficult for small ships to reach the location," he told a news conference in Jakarta.
'Traumatised''Traumatised'
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. The Dumai Express 10 was travelling from Batam island to Dumai in Riau, Sumatra, when it sank.
Officials said it rolled over before capsizing about 90 minutes into its voyage.
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 perilsRECENT 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 were now safe and onboard another boat, police said. Rescue efforts were aided by the fact that the ferry went down in the busy Malacca Straits between Indonesia and Malaysia.
But other reports spoke of passengers still in the water, with high waves hampering rescue efforts. According to Sunaryo, 292 people were picked up by nearby boats. The total number of people on board the vessel remains unknown.
Officials blamed the accident on weather conditions rather than over-crowding. Officials said rescue efforts would continue until dark and then resume in the morning.
"The maximum capacity is 273 people so the ferry wasn't overloaded. It sank due to very bad weather," the sea transport director-general, Sunaryo, told AFP news agency. A navy spokesman said it was not clear whether anyone was still inside the ferry, which was now completely submerged.
An navy spokesman said it was not clear whether anyone was still inside the ferry, which was now completely submerged.
"We're not sure if anyone is trapped in the ferry. Those who have been rescued are traumatised," Iskandar Sitompul said."We're not sure if anyone is trapped in the ferry. Those who have been rescued are traumatised," Iskandar Sitompul said.
Another ferry, the Dumai Express 15, was reported to have run aground in bad weather as it travelled between Batam and Moro islands.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.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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