Indonesia: 15 dead, 15 missing as ferry sinks

Fifteen passengers were killed and 15 others were missing today after waves as high as 13ft sank a wooden ferry in eastern Indonesia.

Marine Private Iwan Widodo said rescue operations saved 29 of the 59 passengers after the boat went down off Halmahera island, in North Maluku province, 1,510 miles (2,430km) east of the capital, Jakarta, late yesterday.

Pte Widodo said bad weather and high waves caused the sinking.

Ferries are a main source of transportation in Indonesia, the world’s largest archipelago nation, with more than 17,000 islands and a population of 235 million. Sea accidents are common due to overcrowding and poor safety standards.