At least 15 people were killed when an overloaded ferry capsized off the Indonesian island of Sulawesi shortly after midnight on July 24, officials said.

A 20-passenger wooden ferryboat with 48 people on board capsized from the village of Ranto in Buton Central District, southeastern Sulawesi, over Mawasanka Bay to the nearby village of Lagii, throwing passengers into rough waters, CBS News reported. report.A 1km (0.5 mile) trip across the bay usually takes 20 minutes, Reuters report. (Related: Hippo capsizes canoe in Malawi, infant dies, 23 missing: authorities)

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At least 15 people on board have died after a small ferry capsized during a short 20-minute voyage near the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, the National Search and Rescue Agency said. https://t.co/rVm1VUpyFl pic.twitter.com/0XLJDfmtrE

— Reuters (@Reuters) July 24, 2023

A rescue team dispatched three rubber boats, two fishing boats, and six divers to search for survivors in the bay. As a result of their efforts, 15 bodies and 6 survivors were recovered. according to Associated Press. After authorities confirmed that all passengers were safe, further rescue and recovery efforts were halted.

“Twenty-seven survived but went straight home and had not been reported before,” said Muhammad Arafah, the head of the local search and rescue agency, according to the Associated Press.

Consisting of more than 17,000 islands, residents of the Indonesian archipelago rely on ferries and boats as their primary means of transportation within the country. At the time of the sinking, many residents were traveling to their villages to celebrate the 9th anniversary of the regency on July 23, CBS News reported.

Capsizing accidents are common in Indonesia, and lax safety standards often lead to overcrowded boats and a lack of adequate lifesaving equipment.