Ferry Sinks, 21 Passengers Declared Missing Feared Dead

Samarinda, E Kalimantan - At least 21 passengers of a ferry that sank on Thursday night in the Mahakam river in East Kalimantan were declared missing feared dead. The KM Surya Indah with 98 people on board capsized in the river in the Kutai Barat regency with one passenger found dead and 76 survivors, a rescue team said on Friday. Chief detective Adj. Comr Suparno of the district police said , among the survivors are the skipper and other crewmen of the vessel. A rescue team made up of police and military officers and local people are searching for the missing people along the river, Suparno said KM Surya Indah that regularly served sail between Samarinda and towns in the regency of Kutai Barat in the interior area was reported sinking at 23.00 local time. Sukaryah, head of the Mahakam Ulu terminal in Samarinda said the KM Surya Indah was heading for the port of Melak carrying 40 passengers, 11 units of motorcycles and 10 tons of rice. Sukaryah did not say where the additional passengers boarded the vessel. The ferry which had carrying capacity of 96 passengers with 40 tons of cargoes set off from the Mahakam Ulu terminal at 07.00 on Thursday and was scheduled to arrive at the port of Melak, Kutai Barat on Friday at 01. 00 local time. (*)