By NNN-Antara,
Tanjungpinang (Riau,Indonesia) : Rescuers have found a total of 255 survivors up to Monday after the “Dumai Express 10” ferry boat sank off Tokong Hiu, Karimun district, Riau Islands province, on Sunday morning.
Tanjung Balai Karimun Naval Base Commander Lt Col Edwin said here the number of survivors rose to 255 on Monday, from 254 on Sunday evening.
“Today we found another survivor at around 12.30 am WIB (Western Indonesian Standard Time),” Edwin, field coordinator of a joint search and rescue team, said.
The latest survivor found was a woman aged between 30 and 35 years old.
“We don`t know her identity because she is still in critical condition and being treated at Tanjungbalai Karimun General Hospital,” he said.
The total of 255 survivors consisted of 153 males and 102 females, he said.
The number of people found dead after the Dumai Express 10 ferry boat sank reached 27 up to Monday morning.
The search and rescue efforts involved a Bolkow helicopter of the Indonesian navy, three warships, and 14 other boats.
The ill-fated ferry was sailing on the Batam-Bengkalis-Dumai route when it sank in Karimun waters.
Based on information from the ill-fated ship`s agent, the Dumai Express 10 was carrying a total of 253 people on board, comprising 213 adult passengers, 25 children and 15 crew members.
However, with the evacuation of 255 survivors and 27 dead victims, the total number of people on board the ill-fated ferry could have been at least 282.
The cause of the accident is still unknown. But Basri Muhammad, a former sailor, believed that the vessel sank after being hit by big waves. The waves in Karimun waters at the time were reported to reach four to six meters high.