Horrific footage shows terrified passengers clinging to side of sinking Indonesian ferry

Horrific footage has emerged of terrified passengers clinging to the side of an Indonesian ferry as it sank, claiming 29 lives including two children .

It is feared that the death toll could continue to rise after the KM Lestari Maju ran aground on Monday about 300 metres off the coast of Indonesia .

The ferry was carrying nearly 140 people as well as vehicles and officials have said 41 people are still missing.

The 48-metre vessel was sailing from Sulawesi to nearby Selayar island when it ran into strong winds and high waves.

Mobile phone footage has emerged showing passengers desperately clinging to the side of the sinking ship, many screaming for help.

Other passengers who had jumped into the sea floated waiting for help, many wearing life jackets.

Indonesia’s Transportation Ministry said smaller boats including local fishing vessels were helping save people as the conditions prevented larger boats from getting close to the ferry.

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Indonesia’s Director-General of Sea Transportation Agus Purnomo said people trapped on the ferry overnight had been rescued early on Wednesday with the captain and the boat owner were the last two people to leave the vessel.

Earlier, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency said 69 people had been rescued.