Indonesia's search and rescue team has located a sunken ferry in Sumatra's Lake Toba, nearly one week after the vessel sank in bad weather with almost 200 people onboard.
Family members gather as they wait for rescue teams searching for missing passengers at the Lake Toba ferry port in the province of North Sumatra. Photo: AFP
The hydrographic survey "identified" the ferry 450m deep in the water, not far from where it sank on Monday, said Nanang Henky Suharto, an executive director at PT Mahakarya Geo Survey, a firm involved in the search.
"We have found the suspected position", Mr Suharto said after the survey located a structure underwater similar to the build of the boat.
Mr Suharto said that further investigation by deploying underwater drones would be required to confirm the findings.
"Due to the depth, divers cannot be deployed," he said.
On Thursday, Indonesian police questioned the ship's captain, warning a criminal investigation could be launched into the cause of the disaster.
"We see there's a possibility to begin a criminal investigation because of negligence that resulted in people losing their lives," national police chief Tito Karnavian said during a visit to the base of rescue operations at the lake, one of the world's deepest.
"The captain may be named a suspect."
Rescue team members search for missing passengers on Lake Toba in the province of North Sumatra. Photo: AFP
The 1145-square kilometre Lake Toba, formed from the caldera of an ancient supervolcano, is a popular destination on the island of Sumatra and one of 10 stunning natural attractions in Indonesia that the government aims to develop as magnets for international and local tourists.
The doomed ferry did not have a passenger manifest, causing confusion about how many people were on board.
On Wednesday, after the full scale of the tragedy emerged, Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said the boat had a passenger capacity of 43 - making it five times over capacity when it sank - and was equipped with only 45 life jackets.
Ferry accidents are common in Indonesia, a vast archipelago, especially during the Islamic holiday of Eid when millions make the annual journey by land, sea, and air to their hometowns after the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
- BBC
