JAKARTA, May 30 (NNN-ANTARA) – Fourteen victims of a sunken ship were rescued safely by rescuers yesterday, bringing the total number of those who survived the tragic accident in central Indonesia to 31, a senior official said.
The 14 people have been rushed into nearby seaports in South Sulawesi province, Yusuf Latief, spokesman for the national search and rescue office, said, over phone.
“Based on the manifest, the ship carried 42 people, meaning that 11 people remain missing,” said Latief.
“The search and rescue mission resumed today (Monday) for the 11 missing persons,” the spokesman said.
He said that the mission will be carried out for seven days, in line with procedures.
Indonesian rescuers intensified the operation to find and help the missing people, involving navy, police and sailors and deploying a chopper and several ships with over 100 personnel, Isran A, a rescuer in charge at the information centre of the provincial search and rescue office, said.
The ship sank after being hit by huge waves in the Makassar strait of the province, on Thursday, but the rescuers did not get the information about the accident until Saturday, according to Wahid D.J. a senior official at the search and rescue office.
The ship suffered an engine failure when it was hit by huge waves, he said.
The vessel departed from Paotere harbour in Makassar, capital of the province, and headed to a seaport in Pangkajene district in the province, according to the official.– NNN-ANTARA
