Death toll from capsized passenger ship in Indonesia rises to 12

ANKARA

The death toll from a passenger ship that capsized in Indonesia's Bali Strait has risen to 12 after two more bodies were recovered on Wednesday, according to a rescue agency official.

Ribut Eko Suyanto, an official from the National Search and Rescue Agency, told reporters that search operations are ongoing with support from the Indonesian navy to locate 23 missing people.

The two bodies were found by fishermen along the coast of Bali Island.

The wooden vessel, carrying 53 passengers and 12 crew members, capsized last Wednesday while en route to Bali Island from eastern Java Island.

The ferry sank just before midnight, with around 30 people rescued so far.

Soejanto Tjahjono, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Committee, said a three-phase investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident, according to the Antara news agency.

*Writing by Aamir Latif