15 Dead And 19 Missing As a Ferry Sinks In Indonesia

A tragic incident took place in  Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island where a ferry sank, resulting in the loss of at least 15 lives. Reports indicate that 19 other individuals have been reported missing following the incident. The ferry was carrying 40 passengers at the time of the accident, which occurred around midnight. The cause of the sink is still unclear out of all the passengers onboard 6 have been rescued.

Rescue and search operations

Rescue and search operations have been going on with the help of local authorities and rescue agencies working to identify the victims and aid their families. Survivors are getting medical treatment at local hospitals. Photos that were shared by the rescue agency showed victims’ bodies covered in cloth on the floor of the local hospital. The incident occurred while the ferry was crossing a bay in Muna Island, which is located about 200 km (124 miles) south of Kendari, the capital of southwest Sulawesi province.

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 “The teams would be divided into two to conduct the search operations. The first team would dive around the accident site and the second will conduct a sweep above the water surface using rubber boats and long boats.” the head of the local search and rescue agency in Kendari city in Southeast Sulawesi, Muhamad Arafah said in a statement.

Ferries are the most commonly used mode of transportation in Indonesia, Indonesia comprising over 17,000 islands. Unfortunately, accidents are not common due to lax safety standards, which sometimes result in vessels being overloaded and lacking adequate life-saving equipment.