WEST KUTAI, EAST KALIMANTAN: Up to 12 passengers of KM Surya Indah were feared drowned as the boat sank in the Mahakam River in West Kutai, East Kalimantan, late on Thursday evening, Antaranews reported.
The boat carried more than 80 passengers, one of whom has been found dead, while 71 people reportedly survived.
A total of 12 persons, however, remained missing as of Friday morning, according to West Kutai Police chief detective Adj. Comr. Suparno.
Suparno said a search and rescue team had been dispatched to look for the 12 victims.
The boat departed from Mahakam Ulu port in Samarinda at about 7 a.m. on Thursday and reportedly sank while sailing through the Mahakam River late in the evening.
It was supposed to have arrived at Melak Port in West Kutai at 1 a.m. on Friday.
“We haven’t been able to determine what caused the boat to sink because at the moment we’re still focusing on searching and evacuating survivors,” he said.