Search resumes after ferry sinks off Indonesia

Rescuers continued to search Indonesian waters on Thursday for people reported missing after a ferry collided with another ship and sank, with officials fearing some were trapped in cars on the wrecked vessel.

At least eight people were killed in Wednesday’s accident, most likely drowning after jumping into the sea without life jackets, said Heru Purwanto, an official at Bakauheni port on southern Sumatra.

More than 210 passengers and crew were rescued in the hours after the accident, but an unknown number are feared missing.

The ferry manifest listed 213 passengers and crew and 78 vehicles on the ferry, but manifests are often unreliable in Indonesia because tickets are sold onboard to passengers who are never registered.

The search for survivors was continuing after many family members came forward to report the names of missing loved ones.

Some passengers were believed to be inside vehicles parked on the ferry when it sank, said Budi Harto, who heads the local disaster management agency in Lampung province. He said divers were facing a difficult task due to the location of the wreck, which was in waters as deep as 90 metres.