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Ferry with 138 people on board sinks in South Sulawesi
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This photo taken by a passenger on board KM Lestari Maju shows the ferry sinking off the Selayar Islands, South Sulawesi, on Tuesday. (Courtesy of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB)/File)
A
passenger vessel with 138 people on board sank on Tuesday in the waters of Selayar, Bulukumba regency, South Sulawesi, at around 2:30 p.m. local time.
Rescue efforts are ongoing, but no casualties have been reported so far.
KM Lestari Maju was also carrying 18 motorcycles, 14 cars, two buses and 14 trucks, according to a manifest signed by the ferry’s captain, Agus Susanto, as required by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).
The Bulukumba Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas Bulukumba) has deployed a team to rescue passengers, who reportedly had on life jackets when the ferry started sinking.
The incident is believed to have been caused by a leak in the ship’s haul, according to the agency.
“We are still trying to rescue the passengers,” a Basarnas Bulukumba spokesperson told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
The incident comes just two weeks after a ferry, KM Sinar Bangun, sank in Lake Toba, North Sumatra, with more than 150 people onboard. At least 90 passengers are still missing. (ebf)
