1 dead, 94 missing after boat sinks in Indonesia

At least one body was found as rescuers continued to search on Tuesday for at least 94 people who are still missing after a boat capsized in Lake Toba on Indonesia's Sumatra island a day earlier, officials said.

Kapal Motor Sinar Bangun boat sank at 5.30 p.m. on Monday after departing Simanindo port in Samosir district and was 1.61 km away from its destination of Tigaras Parapat of Simalungun district.

A statement obtained by Xinhua news agency from police headquarters said the number of the missing was expected to rise as families kept reporting their missing family members.

The statement said one person was dead while 18 others were rescued, which was lower than the number reported on Monday by the head of provincial disaster agency Riadil Luebis, who said 19 were rescued.

Seven boats with over 25 personnel in each were dispatched to recover and rescue the victims, but the operation was hampered by unfavourable weather conditions, said Mahler Tamba, head of the operational unit at the disaster management office in Samosir district.

He said rainy weather was hindering the rescue mission.

Last week, 16 people died when another boat sank near the southern coast of Celebes island in the central region of the archipelago.

Indonesia records more accidents during the holiday period following the month of Ramadan, when millions of people travel around the country putting pressure on the precarious infrastructure.

--IANS

soni/bg