Victims' relatives (Source: AFP) Hanoi (VNA) – The number of missing people from a sunk vessel on Lake Toba in Indonesia two days ago climbed to 192, according to the latest report issued by the National Search and Rescue Agency on June 20.
The wooden vessel, overcrowded with passengers as well as dozens of motorbikes, didn't have a manifest and disaster officials have several times raised the number of people it was carrying as family members who rushed to the lake in northern Sumatra provided information.
The boat was five times over its passenger capacity of 43 and equipped with only 45 life jackets, Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi and National Search and Rescue Agency chief Muhammad Syaugi told a news conference.
To date, rescuers found at least four bodies and saved 18 others. About 400 rescue personnel, including military and police officers, were deployed in the search.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency predicted that the work may last at least one week.
Spokesperson of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said that the KM Sinar Bangun boat sank at about 5:30 pm on June 18 when it was sailing from Samosir, a volcanic island in the middle of Lake Toba, to Parapat town.
Most of the passengers were tourists enjoying the country's 12-day-long Eid al-Fitr holidays.
The 3,000-square-kilometre lake, which is the largest volcanic lake in the world, is a popular spot for local and international tourists.-VNA
VNA
