Two dead after ferry capsizes off East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Two people were killed after a Ro-Pax ferry capsized and sank in Indonesia's East Kalimantan province on Monday, May 5.

The 44-metre Muchlisa was en route from Balikpapan to Penajam in East Kalimantan when it suffered engine failure and water ingress at around 15:20 local time on Monday.

The crew attempted to repair the damage and contain the flooding but were unsuccessful, prompting them to contact nearby vessels to request assistance.

Muchlisa's crew then deliberately beached the ferry on a sandbar to prevent it from sinking, but it went adrift shortly afterwards and eventually listed, capsized, and sank.

Personnel from national search and rescue agency Basarnas and the Indonesian National Police were able to safely evacuate all 23 passengers and all but two of the 21-strong crew.

The last two crewmembers were initially declared missing. They were found deceased by a Basarnas dive team in one of the onboard compartments on the sunken ferry on Tuesday, May 6.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the ferry's port propeller shaft had broken and become loose, causing the port engine to shut down and water to enter through the stern.