Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
250 drown as storm sinks ferry off Indonesia
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sunday, January 11th 2009, 8:29 PM
JAKARTA, Indonesia - A ferry capsized in a severe storm in central Indonesia Sunday, killing an estimated 250 passengers onboard.
Fishing boats were able to rescue only 18 survivors, according to a port official in Parepare on the island of Sulawesi, where the ferry began its journey.
About 250 passengers and 17 crew are believed to have been aboard the ferry when it went down 30miles off western Sulawesi.
Transport Minister Jusman Syafi'i Djamal said the captain - who was among those pulled alive from the sea - reported that 150 people jumped off the boat before it sank.
"We have prepared a search and rescue operation, but now there are high waves hampering the process," Djamal said.
The 700-ton Teratai Prima, carrying 18 tons of cargo, radioed that it was "hit by a storm" before it went down, officials said.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_...250_drown_as_storm_sinks_ferry_off_indon.html
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sunday, January 11th 2009, 8:29 PM
JAKARTA, Indonesia - A ferry capsized in a severe storm in central Indonesia Sunday, killing an estimated 250 passengers onboard.
Fishing boats were able to rescue only 18 survivors, according to a port official in Parepare on the island of Sulawesi, where the ferry began its journey.
About 250 passengers and 17 crew are believed to have been aboard the ferry when it went down 30miles off western Sulawesi.
Transport Minister Jusman Syafi'i Djamal said the captain - who was among those pulled alive from the sea - reported that 150 people jumped off the boat before it sank.
"We have prepared a search and rescue operation, but now there are high waves hampering the process," Djamal said.
The 700-ton Teratai Prima, carrying 18 tons of cargo, radioed that it was "hit by a storm" before it went down, officials said.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_...250_drown_as_storm_sinks_ferry_off_indon.html