One dead, 12 missing after ferry sinks off North Maluku, Indonesia

Indonesian authorities have reported that one person was killed and 12 other people have gone missing after a ferry capsized and sank in bad weather off North Maluku province on Monday, July 18.

The ferry Cahaya Arafah was en route to Halmahera Island with 77 passengers and crew when the incident occurred on the evening (local time) of Monday.

Personnel of the country’s Basarnas search and rescue (SAR) agency and some Good Samaritan boat crews from nearby Ternate Island sailed to the area and pulled 64 survivors out of the water. Some of the survivors were reportedly found swimming to shore.

A Basarnas official said that the body of a deceased female was recovered in the surrounding waters on Wednesday, July 20. The victim has since been identified as a passenger on the ill-fated ferry.

SAR teams are continuing to comb the area off Ternate Island for any sign of the 12 missing individuals.