The official Antara news agency reported from Irian Jaya's Merauke district that the motorised Bimas Raya II vessel, believed to be carrying more than 320 people on board, was missing on Monday night. Twenty-six survivors were rescued, but about 300 others were still missing and feared drowned.

The vessel was serving several sub-districts of Irian Jaya to Merauke regency when the incident happened. Rescue workers came with at least five vessels at nearby Hube Island, about five miles from Merauke's harbour, to help search the missing.