At least 31 dead in Indonesia ferry sinking

At least 31 people died after a ferry sank near Indonesia's Sulawesi island, officials said on Wednesday, as rescue teams searched for dozens of missing passengers a day after the country's latest ferry disaster.

Tuesday's sinking came a few weeks after an overcrowded ferry sank on Lake Toba, one of the world's deepest volcanic lakes, claiming more than 200 lives.

The Sulawesi ferry, with 139 passengers aboard according to its manifest, began sinking Tuesday afternoon in rough seas. In a desperate bid to save lives, the vessel's captain steered it toward shore, grounding it between 200-300 meters (985-655 feet) from land.

Indonesia's director-general of sea transportation, Agus Purnomo, said in a statement that people trapped on the ferry overnight were rescued early Wednesday.

He didn't specify how many but said the captain and the boat owner were the last two people to leave the vessel.

Amiruddin, chief of the South Sulawesi search and rescue agency, said there were 164 people on the vessel including crew. Amiruddin, who uses one name, said 130 survived.

"We are still searching for three others who we strongly believe are still inside the ship," Amiruddin said.

Photos released by National Disaster Mitigation Agency on Tuesday showed passengers clinging to the listing vessel as others descended into the heavy seas using ropes hung over its side. Most appeared to be wearing lifejackets.

Purnomo credited the captain's actions with helping to save lives.

The 48.5-meter- (159-foot) -long vessel, carrying several dozen vehicles including a bus and trucks, was on its way to Selayar island, just south of the main Sulawesi island, from the port of Bira when it began taking on water.

Ferry tragedies are common in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, with weak enforcement of safety regulations often to blame.