Death toll of Indonesian ferry fire rises to 41

An Indonesian coastal guarding official said on Sunday that death toll of the Levina I ferry fire last week rose to 41 as another 21 bodies of victims have been found.

"There were totally 21 bodies being found near the Coconut Island off Jakarta," local news website Detik.com quoted Panji Nirwana, top official of coastal and sea guarding bureau, as saying on Sunday's news conference.

According to Nirwana, the 21 bodies were found by 4 fishing ships, and 7 male bodies would be sent back from Coconut Island at first and local government would check their identities.

There are 4 ships still searching for the missing people off the waters.

On the dawn of Dec. 22, a ferry named Levina I carrying around 300 passengers caught fire on its route from Jakarta to Island Pangka. Over 200 passengers have been rescued, and dozens missing.

Source: Xinhua