74 missing in Indon boat sinking

In June dozens of tourists were injured in several explosions on a ferry in eastern Indonesia, while more than 20 passengers died and a similar amount never found when a ferry sank in East Java a year ago.

Jakarta, Indonesia (CNN)Authorities are attempting to rescue more than 100 people who were aboard a ship caught in rough seas off the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.

The fiberglass ferry was on its way from Kolaka in Southeast Sulawesi province crossing the Gulf of Bone to Siwa town in South Sulawesi province, when it was overwhelmed by waves more than 3 meters (10 feet) high during stormy weather Saturday, said Roki Asikin, head of the search and rescue agency in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi.

Search and rescue teams have still not found the stricken vessel, police told AFP, which was ferrying 118 people around Sulawesi island when it sent out a distress signal late Saturday afternoon.

Police said the patrolling boats have been dispatched to look for the boat that is believed to have gone underwater 12 miles away from the destination. The passengers included 14 children. He added that a CN-235 aircraft of the air force joined the search Sunday.

Officials have dismissed claims the boat has sunk, despite initial media reports the boat had gone down in ferocious seas, saying instead it was adrift having lost engine power.

He said officials were checking unconfirmed reports from residents that some of the survivors had washed ashore.

The search for the 80 people still missing was called off at nightfall Sunday and resumed Monday morning.

According to website ManadoKota.com, the Marina Baru named boat had some 108 to 120 people on board before departing from Kolaka in southeast Sulawesi.

Indonesia’s waterways serve as a widespread form of transportation in some areas of the country, where accidents resulting from overcrowded boats and lax safety standards are common.