500 missing from sunken ferry

Around 500 people are still missing today, a day after an Indonesian ferry sank in a storm.

Rescuers are scouring the choppy waters of the Java Sea in search of more survivors.

At least 109 people have been found alive after washing ashore or being lifted from life rafts by rescuers on boats and helicopters, Indonesian officials said.

Search and rescue worker Karolus Sangaji said it was unclear how many people had died because no bodies had been found, though witnesses said they saw dead people.

"I don't want to speculate on how long people can survive floating on the sea, we only hope they can survive," he said.

Dozens of relatives were gathered at Semarang seaport at dawn, desperate for news of loved ones 30 hours after the ship went down, as boats and helicopters resumed their searches.

Neneng, a 35-year-old housewife, stood weeping at a street corner.

"I'm worried about my husband, there has been no word if he is safe or not," she said, "I'll wait here until I get confirmation."

The Senopati Nusantara had been on a 48-hour trip to Java from Borneo island when 15ft waves crashed over the deck.

Indonesia's tropical waters are between 20 and 32 degrees Centigrade (72 and 84 Fahrenheit). People have been known to survive days at sea.

Survivors said the boat - pounded by heavy waves for more than 10 hours - capsized late on Friday night.

"It suddenly veered to one side, and the TV and fridges fell over," Irfan Setiawan said on Metro TV.

He said a piece of debris hit him and he sank with the ship, but fought his way to the surface and got into a lifeboat.

Others clung on to pieces of wood or swam to nearby islands.

Another survivor, Budi Susilo, said he saw three people drown after losing their grip on an overturned raft.

"We told them to hold on, but they ran out of energy," he said.

Four navy ships, several other vessels and at least two aircraft have been combing the area from where the ship had last radio contact with port authorities, but poor visibility and stormy seas hindered their effort.

Officials said the car ferry, built in Japan in 1990, had a capacity of 850 passengers and had been in good condition.

"We all just prayed as the waves got higher," said passenger Cholid, who survived by clinging to wooden planks.

"I was going upstairs to try to help my daughter, but the ship suddenly broke up and I was thrown out. I lost her," said Cholid, who gave a single name.

Ferries are a main mode of transportation in Indonesia, a vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands with 220 million people. Overcrowding and poorly enforced safety standards mean accidents are common.