Nine missing after ship sinks

JAYAPURA (Jakarta Post) : Bad weather has hindered rescue workers from searching for nine people missing after a passenger ship capsized in the Arafuru waters of Merauke on Wednesday.

"Rescue workers continue working to find the nine but bad weather hinders them from resuming their work today," spokesman for the province police Sr. Comr. Agus Rianto said here Friday.

The KM Ratna Utama capsized on its trip from Merauke to Kimaan in Mappi regency when it was hit by big waves Wednesday night. Eight people, including crew members, were saved by a fishing boat.

The incident was the second-worst sinking in the past ten years after the KM Binar Raya capsized in 1999, killing hundreds.