Ship sinks off Indonesia; 60 missing
AMBON, Indonesia—Officials say a passenger ferry with more than 150 people on board sank off the Maluku Islands in eastern Indonesia. At least eight people are dead and 60 are missing, though dozens of others were rescued.
Nus Sileti, a transportation official, said the ship, packed with people who were heading home for the Christmas holidays, capsized after running into stormy weather Wednesday.
It was pounded by waves 10 feet (3 meters) high.
Sileti said seven bodies have been pulled from the water and about 80 people were rescued.
It was Indonesia’s second shipping disaster in less than a week.
On Saturday, a ship packed with asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey and Iran sank off Java island.
More than 200 people are believed to have died.
