Indonesia ferry sinks with more than 100 on board

JAKARTA–A ferry carrying more than 100 people sank in the waters off Indonesia’s Sumatra island Wednesday after colliding with a cargo tanker, killing two on board, according to media reports and officials.

The KM Bahuga Jaya had set sail from Merak port in West Java to Sumatra island before the collision early Wednesday, transport ministry spokesman Bambang Ervan told AFP.

“Rescuers and other boats in the area have evacuated 128 people so far. We don’t know their condition,” he said, adding that the vessel was loaded with manned vehicles such as trucks, cars and motorcycles.

Local media reported at least two people were killed and 10 others seriously injured, citing Merak police official Fredya Triharbakti.

Such accidents are common in Indonesia, where ships and boats have a poor safety record and where the 240-million population is scattered over a vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands.