10 Survive Ferry Wreck

M A N A D O, Indonesia, July 2 -- — An Indonesian search ship found 10survivors today from a ferry packed with refugees thatdisappeared three days ago in a violent storm, the head of thegovernment’s search and rescue agency said.

A commercial vessel plucked the 10 survivors and one dead bodyfrom the water close to the islet of Karakelong, about 120 milesnortheast of Manado on Sulawesi island, in central Indonesia.

“Survivors confirmed that their ship sank after taking on waterin rough seas and strong winds,” said Setio Rahardjo, head of thegovernment’s search and rescue agency.

He said the survivors of the Cahaya Bahari, which was reportedmissing on Thursday, were found floating in the water, wearing lifejackets and clinging to debris.

“Now at least we know what happened to the ship,” Rahardjosaid.

Weakened by Hunger

He said the four women and six men were dehydrated, sunburnedand weakened by hunger. They were picked up this morning morethan 60 miles from the point where contact with the Cahaya Bahariwas lost.

Naval maritime aircraft sent to the location have been unable tospot any more survivors or lifeboats, officials said.

Many of the 492 people on board were Christian refugees escapingbloody fighting with Muslims in the Maluku islands.

Contact with the Cahaya Bahari was lost Thursday soon after itscaptain radioed that it was taking on water in a fierce storm offthe northeast tip of Sulawesi, about 1,440 miles northeast ofIndonesia’s capital, Jakarta.

Scores of tearful relatives were in shock after hearing the newsat Manado airport.

“Until now we had been praying that the ship was stillafloat,” said John Girobus, whose mother was on board. “Now weknow it has sunk and only a few people have been rescued. Everyoneis very worried about their families.”

200-Mile Voyage

The ferry was on a 200-mile voyage to Manado from the Malukus, acorner of the Indonesian archipelago where violence between Muslimsand Christians has killed almost 3,000 people of both faiths in thepast 18 months.