MV SINKS IN KARIMUN WATERS

Karimun, Riau Islands, Nov 22 (ANTARA) - A motor vessel sank in the Tukong Iyu waters en route to Dumai in Riau Islands province on Sunday, a spokesman said.

The vessel, KM Dumai Express 10, normally called at the Tanjung Balai domestic port in Karimun, but this time it didn't, the head of the Karimun district transportation service, Cendra Nawazir, said.

Cendra said he had dispatchhed his men aboard a speedboat to help evacuate the victims.

"The exact number of passengers of the ill-fated vessel is still unknown, except that the accident occurred in Tukong Ayu waters north of Karimun Besar Island," he said.

A naval ship and two motor vessels were heading to the scene on Sunday morning to help evacuate the victims, an ANTARA correspondent observed.

A source said the vessel left Sekupang port in Batam for Dumai at around 7.30 a.m. with 213 passengers on the manifest.

The cause of the accident is still unknown.

But Basri Muhammad, a former sailor, said he believed the vessel sank after big waves hit it.