Authorities are still trying to confirm the number of passengers who had been on board the ferry, but said that at least 128 people were missing. There has been no word on whether any foreign tourists are among the missing.
At least 128 passengers are still missing from an overloaded ferry that sank in Indonesia’s Lake Toba on Monday (June 18) amid rough weather.
Indonesian rescue workers have rescued 18 people since the incident at the tourist destination known for its ancient super-volcano crater on Sumatra island. One passenger was confirmed to be dead, Straits Times reported.
“Many people have reported their relatives missing,” said Mr Budiawan, head of the search and rescue agency based in the nearby city of Medan.
Hundreds of rescue workers, including military and police officials, were helping with the search, with authorities deploying an underwater robot equipped with a camera to try to find the boat, the Jakarta Post reported.
Authorities are still trying to confirm the number of passengers who had been on board the ferry, but said that at least 128 people were missing. There has been no word on whether any foreign tourists are among the missing.
The wooden ferry had a capacity of 60, but was overloaded and also carrying dozens of motorcycles, according to Indonesia's Transport Ministry official Sri Hardianto.
It is believed the ferry was operating illegally, with no manifest or passenger tickets.