Indonesian Ferry Accident: 2 Children Killed As Boat Drifts In Rough Waters

UPDATE: 11:29 p.m. EST — Two children have been killed after a ferry broke down in rough waters in central Indonesia Saturday afternoon, authorities said Sunday. Rescuers, meanwhile, saved 23 passengers, the officials said, according to BBC.

The accident occurred in Sulawesi Island after the ship had been hit by high waves resulting in breaking down of its engine, the authorities said.

UPDATE: 10:42 p.m. EST — Reuters reports: Dozens of people with life jackets were found floating in Indonesia's Gulf of Bone on Sunday, some clinging to a fish trap, after abandoning their ferry in rough seas off Sulawesi Island, said officials, adding that two passengers had died.

Fishermen found four people alive in a fish trap and took them to hospital in the town of Siwa on Sulawesi, the head of the local rescue team, Roki Azikin, told Reuters.

A Transport Ministry spokesman said another 21 people were later found at sea.

Original story:

More than 100 people were trapped aboard an Indonesian passenger boat that broke down in rough waters Saturday afternoon, and rescuers were attempting to reach the vessel. The boat, carrying 118 passengers, was traveling near the island of Sulawesi when its engine broke down, the BBC reported.

"The ship has not sunk," South Sulawesi police spokesman Frans Barung said, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Transport Ministry spokesman J.A. Barata told the BBC that a distress signal was sent out Saturday.

“The team from our headquarters ... all that we have, we are deploying there, but we’re facing high waves,” Bambang Soelistyo, chief of Indonesia’s national search-and-rescue agency, said.

Rescue boats were headed out to the scene but were not expected to reach the vessel until Sunday morning, local time, due to the choppy water.

Roki Asikin, heading the South Sulawesi rescue team, said the passenger boat was struck by waves over 10 feet high and eventually sprang a leak, the Independent reported. Since then, the boat has taken on more water.

Asikin said at least 14 children were on board.

There were no casualties reported.