A passenger boat overloaded with holidaymakers celebrating Eid capsized off the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Wednesday killing 13 people, officials said.
Although twenty-four survivors were admitted to hospital, dozens are believed still missing, said local disaster agency head Amiruddin, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.
“The boat reportedly hit a large wave amid bad weather and capsized,” Amiruddin said.
The traditional wooden boat known locally as a jolloro left Makassar, provincial capital of South Sulawesi, in the afternoon for a short journey to the tiny resort island of Barrang Lompo, some 15 kilometers (9 miles) northwest of the city’s coast.
The passengers were thought to be Barrang Lompo natives who work in Makassar and were heading home to spend the Islamic holiday Eid al-Fitr with their families.
Makassar police chief Aris Bachtiar said the boat was packed. “We are still investigating,” he said, adding that the captain had been detained.
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