JAKARTA, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers Wednesday resumed search and rescue operations after a deadly ferry sank a day earlier in waters off central Indonesia; so far 29 bodies have been recovered and 41 people are still missing, according to officials.
Ferry KMP Lestari Maju, heading to Selayar island, went down at 14:30 p.m. local time in the waters of Selayar of South Sulawesi province, just 300 meters away from a sea port in the island, according to the national disaster management agency.
Head of operation at Pamatata seaport in Selayar island Syamsul Kadri said that some bodies were projected to be trapped inside the vehicles carried by the ferry.
"The most updated data about the casualty is 29 people dead and around 41 others are still unfounded," Kadri told Xinhua by phone from the scene.
The official was upbeat over the operation as the weather condition is favorable in the location.
"We have included divers and a navy ship along with personnel of search and rescue office," Kadri said.
He said that a total of 98 people have been rescued from the ship, stressing that the number of passengers are 138; it excluded the number of crew.
The vessel was also loaded with cars and motorcycles in addition to the passengers and crew, director general for sea transports at transport ministry R. Agus Purnomo told Xinhua in a text message.
The sinking is only days after a boat, allegedly overloaded, sank in lake Toba of North Sumatra province that killed at least four people and left 192 others missing.
