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| Hundreds saved on Indonesia ferry | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| More than 200 people have been rescued from the sea after a heavily-loaded ferry sank off the coast of Indonesia. | |
| But at least 23 people died and an unknown number of others are missing after the accident, which officials blamed on bad weather and high waves. | |
| Some reports suggested the ferry, which had a capacity of 273 people, may have been overloaded. | |
| Search efforts have now stopped for the night but officials say they will resume in the morning. | |
| 'Traumatised' | 'Traumatised' |
| Indonesia's sea transport director-general, Sunaryo, said rescue efforts had been 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. | "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. |
| The Dumai Express 10 was travelling from Batam island to Dumai in Riau, Sumatra, when it sank. | 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. | Officials said it rolled over before capsizing about 90 minutes into its voyage. |
| According to its manifest, about 240 people were on board the Dumai Express 10 ferry when it sailed, but it is not clear if this was accurate. | |
| Rescue efforts were aided by the fact that the ferry went down in the busy Malacca Straits between Indonesia and Malaysia. | Rescue efforts were aided by the fact that the ferry went down in the busy Malacca Straits between Indonesia and Malaysia. |
| 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 href="/2/hi/in_pictures/8373154.stm">In pictures: Ferry rescue class="" href="/2/hi/asia-pacific/6270797.stm">Indonesia's public transport perils | |
| It is not clear exactly how many people have been picked up. | It is not clear exactly how many people have been picked up. |
| The chief of police in Riau told the BBC that 218 had been rescued; earlier other officials gave totals of 292 and 232. | The chief of police in Riau told the BBC that 218 had been rescued; earlier other officials gave totals of 292 and 232. |
| The total number of people on board the vessel remains unknown. | The total number of people on board the vessel remains unknown. |
| A navy spokesman said it was not clear whether anyone was still inside the ferry, which was now completely submerged. | A 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. |
| Are you in Sumatra? Do you know anybody who was on board of the ferry? Tell us what is happening using the form below. | Are you in Sumatra? Do you know anybody who was on board of the ferry? Tell us what is happening using the form below. |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
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