Indonesia hunts for ferry missing

Some survivors spent all night in the sea

Nearly 40 people are feared to be still missing after a ferry sank in heavy seas in eastern Indonesia on Tuesday.

Rescuers saved at least 115 people from the sea off Rote island, 2,000km (1,250 miles) from Jakarta, while at least two people are confirmed to have died.

Officials estimate 37 people are still missing, but they admit they are not sure how many people were on the boat.

Bad weather hampered rescue efforts on Thursday, and hopes of finding further survivors were fading.

The ferry's manifest showed 102 passengers and crew were on board the boat, but officials and passengers said the real number was higher.

Relatives lined the shore of Kupang port on Timor island on Thursday, hoping their loved ones would be among those disembarking from two navy ships that had been involved in rescue work.

Engine trouble

Ferries are a common means of transport in Indonesia, but overcrowding has often led to accidents.

Safety standards are often not enforced, meaning boats are in poor condition and carry more passengers than regulations allow.

However, survivors said they were warned in an announcement to don life jackets, and there were enough to go round and enough time to put them on.

The ferry left Kupang on the western side of Timor island on Tuesday evening for the four-hour voyage to Rote island.

But about two hours into the crossing, the boat started to experience engine trouble in rough seas, with waves reportedly up to 3m (10 feet) high.

The ferry tried to turn back for Kupang, but its engine failed completely. It then capsized in high seas.

The survivors found so far were rescued by one of the navy ships searching the area.

Many needed hospital treatment after spending most of the night in the sea, witnesses said.