Rescuers struggle to reach stricken Indonesian ferry

Rescuers are working to reach a passenger ship that is adrift with over 100 people on board.

It was bound for an unspecified destination in South Sulawesi, which lies across the Gulf of Boni, when, according to local media, it came into trouble and sunk.

Radio New Zealand is reporting Indonesian authorities believe the ship was hit by high waves which shut down the engine on the vessel.

Earlier, transport ministry spokesman J.A. Barata confirmed the ferry, carrying 118 passengers including 19 children, “had an accident as a result of large waves 4 to 5m high”.

“We all lose contact with the boat now”, Andi Sunan, coordinator of the rescue operation told Xinhua on Saturday night from a rescue ship heading to the waters where the ship in distress was supposed to be.

Barata said several search and rescue ships had been deployed to search for more survivors in the area, where waves of up to five metres (16 feet) were being recorded.

Local search and rescue agency chief Roki Asikin said they were due to reach the ship early yesterday.

“These waves are very high”, he said.

Just this week a Danish cargo ship collided with a tanker and sank in Indonesia’s west, with some crew still missing.

Another site, Kompas.com, said 122 people were on board the ship.