Hasrul, Kendari – The bodies of 27 people have been recovered after a ferry sank Thursday night off the coast of Baubau in Southeast Sulawesi carrying more than 100 passengers.
Authorities reported the Acita 03 capsized several kilometers from shore around 9 p.m., after dozens of passengers rushed to the roof to get a stronger signal for their cell phones.
The ferry was traveling from the Wakatobi islands in Southeast Sulawesi to Baubau. Most of the passengers were holidaymakers returning from their hometowns after celebrating the Idul Fitri holiday.
As the ship approached Baubau dozens of passengers rushed to the top of the ship to get a cell phone signal so they could call waiting family members.
"There were around 20 of them. They moved to the top because they wanted to get a better signal for their cell phones. They wanted to tell their waiting families they would arrive soon at Baubau," a survivor, Safruddin, said.
Safruddin is being treated at Baubau's hospital for injuries he suffered in the accident. Outside the hospital police officers attempted to calm desperate family members searching for loved ones.
In an alley near the hospital's morgue, Mahmud, 38, sat on the ground quietly crying. Inside the morgue were the bodies of his three children: Wa Eti, 8, Ade Anita, 4, and Dani, 2. His wife, Wa Ida, is still missing.
Mahmud, who works as a newspaper deliveryman in Kendari, and his family were returning from a five-day Idul Fitri holiday in his home village on Tomia island. "I never expected that God would summon them all," he said, tears running down his cheeks.
Police were questioning the ferry's captain, La Boti, Friday afternoon.
The 6-year-old wooden ferry was designed to carry no more than 60 people. Yet during its journey Thursday there were more than 100 people crowded into the vessel. "There were more than 100 passengers," the captain confirmed, without giving further details.
Authorities say they will continue their search Saturday for possible survivors of the accident, as well as for the bodies of victims.
"We will continue combing the offshore area around Baubau. Hopefully, we will find some survivors out there," head of the Kendari search and rescue team, Roky Ashikin, said.
Wakatobi Regent Hugua said the bodies of the victims would be buried in the Baubau public cemetery. "I have talked with Baubau Mayor Amirul Tamim and he agreed with the plan (to bury the victims in Baubau)," he said.
The Wakatobi administration said it would cover the hospital and burial expenses of the victims.