Jakarta, July 8
The death toll from a passenger ship sinking in Indonesia's Bali Strait last Wednesday evening has risen to 10, according to senior rescue officials on Tuesday.
"The number of casualties has reached 10 today. Thirty passengers were saved and 25 others are still missing," I Nyoman Sidakarya, head of the Search and Rescue Office in Bali, told news agency.
He said Tuesday's search and rescue efforts would include underwater operations involving several divers and vessels equipped with underwater detection technology.
"Surface searches are still ongoing, using ships and rigid inflatable boats," Nyoman added. "Aerial searches are also being conducted."
Novita Nirmala, a senior official from the Search and Rescue Office in East Java province, told that two of the 10 victims were recovered this morning.
However, she said the identities of the two victims have yet to be confirmed.
Huge waves and strong winds caused the passenger ship KM Tunu Pratama Jaya to sink in the Bali Strait on Wednesday night.
The ferry was carrying 53 passengers, 12 crew members, and 22 vehicles when it went down in the waters between Java and Bali islands.