Indonesian authorities launched a search operation for missing passengers after a ferry sank near Sulawesi island, resulting in the death of at least 15 people, according to the national search and rescue agency.

Out of the 40 passengers onboard, 19 were still unaccounted for, while six were rescued. The cause of the incident, which took place around midnight, remained unclear.

Muhamad Arafah from the local branch of the search and rescue agency reported that all the victims had been identified and returned to their families, and that the survivors were receiving treatment at nearby hospitals. Distressing photos shared by the rescue agency depicted the covered bodies of victims in the local hospital.

The ill-fated vessel was transporting people across a bay on Muna island, approximately 200 km (124 miles) south of Kendari, the capital of Southeast Sulawesi province.

Ferries are a common means of transportation in Indonesia, an extensive archipelago with over 17,000 islands, but accidents are frequent due to lax safety standards, often leading to vessels being overloaded and lacking sufficient life-saving equipment.

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