At least 178 passengers feared dead after ferry sinks on Lake Toba in Indonesia

Desperate families were today demanding answers to what went wrong after an overcrowded ferry sank in Indonesia, leaving at least 178 passengers missing and feared dead.

Only 18 survivors have been found following the disaster on Lake Toba on the island of Sumatra, local officials said.

The wooden vessel was said to be overcrowded with passengers and motorbikes when it sank on Monday evening after being capsized by high waves.

One mother, who only gave her name as Suwarni, said her 20-year-old son and his girlfriend were on the ferry.

“Millions of questions keep me from sleeping,” she said. “What kind of government is it which can’t protect their own people from unnecessary accidents? And after the accident they’re not able to find the victims. I beg help to quickly find my son and his girlfriend, even if it’s their remains.”

Divers were today scouring the lake for victims and were also using a search drone to depths of up to 200 metres.

One survivor, Juwita Sumbayak, from nearby Medan, said the vessel was overcrowded because of holidays marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

She wept as she said she feared her husband and children had drowned.