Nine dead as Indonesian passenger ferry sinks

Jakarta: An official says rescuers have saved more than 230 people aboard an Indonesian passenger ferry that sank in rough waters off Sumatra island, but at least nine people have died. An unknown number of passengers were still missing.

A second ferry was still stranded in nearby waters after running aground, but all its passengers were said to be safe.

Rescue teams have found nine bodies, including those of two children, and rescued 232 survivors from the Dumai Express 10, said Nurdin Basirun, a local government official.

High waves were making the search and rescue operation difficult, said Brig. Gen. Puji Hartanto, police chief of Riau Kepulauan province. At least nine ships and several fishing boats were searching the choppy sea for an unknown number of missing passengers.