Bodies of victims found (Source: Reuters/VNA)Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesian authority announced on December 29 an end to the search and rescue mission for victims of a passenger boat that sank in rough seas off the coast of Sulawesi Island 10 days ago.
The operation was closed on afternoon the same day, the spokesman of the national rescue team stated, adding that 40 people were saved, 66 found dead while 12 others are still missing.
Ferry “Marina Baru” was en route from Kolaka of Southeast Sulawesi to Siwa town of South Sulawesi with 118 passengers and crew on board when it was overwhelmed by up-to-5-metres-high waves and sank during stormy weather on December 19.
According to survivors, many people may still be trapped inside the ferry.
The Indonesian archipelago of more than 17,500 islands is heavily dependent on ferry services.-VNA
