Indonesian Ferry with 147 on Board Catches Fire, 10 Killed

Ten people were killed and 11 others are missing after a passenger ferry with 147 people on board caught fire Friday and sank in central Indonesia, Kyodo reported,citing a government official Saturday.

The Fungka Permata V was on its way from the port of Bau-Bau in Southeast Sulawesi Province to the port of Sanana in North Maluku Province, about 520 kilometers away, when it caught fire in waters off Central Sulawesi Province’s Banggai Regency, Gus Rional, spokesman at the Directorate General of Sea Transportation, said. It sank at 4:45 p.m.

Rescuers only reached the site at 7:30 p.m. due to high waves and rescued 126 passengers, the spokesman said.

The cause of the incident was not known. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)