World

Nearly 200 feared dead after ferry sinks

June 20, 2018 4:06 pm

More than 190 people are now thought to be missing after Monday’s ferry disaster on Lake Toba, on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

The number, revised up from 130, is three times the number of passengers the ferry was licensed to carry.

Lake Toba, the world’s largest volcanic lake, was busy with tourists celebrating the annual Eid holiday when the ferry sank in poor weather.

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Many victims are thought to have been trapped inside the vessel, police said.

Indonesia’s national search and rescue agency said only 18 survivors had been found, all within hours of the tragedy. Three bodies have been recovered.

Authorities say the boat operators didn’t hand out tickets so there are no records of who was on board.