Kayakers from the Paddler Sumatra Club and Onestha Camp have volunteered to help search for the victims of the capsized Sinar Bangun ferry in Lake Toba in North Sumatra.

The volunteers coordinated with the National Search and Rescue Agency to patrol the perimeter of the lake and keep an eye out for victims washed up on or near the shore.

“We’ve deployed 10 kayakers to circle Lake Toba,” said Paddler Sumatra manager Tommy Sembiring as reported by Antara on Thursday.

The volunteers have a team of three kayaks, one rubber dingy and one inflatable boat in three areas around the lake, namely Sipolha, Sibaganding and Tigaras harbor.

Sinar Bagun ferry, which carried at least 189 people, capsized on Monday, according to the latest report by the Transportation Ministry. Only 21 have been found, 18 of whom survived. The exact number of passengers remains unknown as the boat, which did not have a passenger manifest, was overloaded. (nor/swd)