SAVED FROM ROCKY SEAS: Relatives of a victim of the 700-ton Teratai Prima, a ferry which sank in heavy weather, gather around him who was rescued from the water Monday at a hospital in Majene, West Sulawesi. Rocky seas hindered rescuers Monday as they searched for nearly 250 people missing and feared dead after a ferry capsized off Sulawesi island. AP
Marine transportation authorities at the Transportation Ministry have said the ferry KM Teratai Prima Kosong was not overloaded when it capsized and sank off the West Sulawesi coast Saturday.
Director general for marine transportation Sunaryo told tempointeraktif.com Monday overloading was not the main factor that caused the ferry to sink.
"The ferry was carrying only 250 passengers and 17 crew members, below its capacity of 300 people," he said, adding that the ferry was also seaworthy.
"We suspect high waves was the main cause of the accident," he said.
Local police are set to question the ferry's pilot Sabir, one of the 18 survivors who managed to swim to shore in Majene by Sunday morning, to help investigate the incident. The police said they suspected Sabir had been careless, thus causing hundreds of passengers to drown.
Rescue teams have picked out two additional survivors from the water by Monday afternoon, bringing the total rescued to 20. More than 200 people are still missing. (ewd)
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