At least 31 people were killed and dozens feared missing after a ferry sank off Indonesia's Sulawesi island in the latest transport accident to hit the archipelago nation, officials said Friday. Residents near the town of Bau Bau on south-east Sulawesi heard survivors screaming for help after the Acita 03 capsized at about 9:00 pm (1300 GMT) Thursday, ElShinta radio reported.
The 22-metre (-yard) long boat sank several miles (kilometres) from shore when passengers clambered to the roof seeking a stronger cell signal to make mobile phone calls, transport ministry official Djoni Algamar said.