Tragedy at sea: Rescuers returning with the remains of the ferry sinking victims at Soekarno Hatta port in Makassar. — AFP
THE death toll of a ferry sinking in Indonesian waters rose to 19, after a 10-day search and rescue operation was called off, authorities said.
The KM Ladang Pertiwi ran out of fuel and sank in bad weather while sailing through Makassar Strait in South Sulawesi on May 26.
News of the accident only reached officials two days later, prompting a search and rescue operation involving fishermen and tugboats.
Authorities rescued 31 passengers and crew, found four bodies and declared 15 missing before the search effort concluded.
Those who were missing are now presumed dead.
“We are calling off the search because there are no signs that more victims could be found,” local search and rescue chief Djunaidi said.
The ship’s captain, who survived the sinking, was named as a suspect for transporting passengers without the necessary permit and the ship’s owner was named as a suspect for hiring crew without proper qualifications, local media reported.
Djunaidi said local fishermen who regularly sail the area were told to alert the authorities if they found more bodies.
He said the search operation could be reopened if there were any signs of survivors.
Djunaidi said on Monday that the incident served as a reminder to “prioritise our safety”.
Marine accidents are common in Indonesia, a country of around 17,000 islands where safety regulations are often laxly enforced. — AFP
