One person is dead and at least 128 people are missing from a ferry that sank on Indonesia's Lake Toba, casting a tragic pall over holidays marking the end of the Muslim holy month.

An estimated of 18 people had been rescued and one passenger was confirmed dead after the ferry sank on Monday (June 18). Some 100 rescue personnel, including military and police officials, were deployed in the search.

It was not immediately clear if foreigners were among the missing passengers.

"Our joint teams moved out at 7am," said Budiawan, head of the search and rescue agency in the nearby city of Medan, adding that the teams would work for as long as the weather allowed.

"It might take time to find victims who drowned," he said, adding that some bodies may be trapped inside the sunken vessel.

The wooden ferry had a capacity of 60 passengers but may have been carrying 80 people and dozens of motorcycles on Monday, said Sri Hardianto, an official at Indonesia's transport ministry.

Source: Bangkok Post

BDST: 1639 HRS, JUN 19, 2018
AH