Officials said that Indonesian rescuers were battling strong currents as they resumed the search on Friday for 30 people who are still missing in the sea, about 35 hours after an Indonesian ferry sank and killed at least six people.

Ribut Eko, an official with the search and rescue agency, confirmed that the ferry, named KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, was carrying 65 Indonesians when it sank on Wednesday evening, about 30 minutes after leaving East Java for Bali.

On Thursday, 29 survivors were rescued before the search for them was suspended due to poor visibility.

Dayu Made, 55, told reporters that her husband Dewa Adyana Putra, a trucker, was on the ferry in order to pick up some supplies for his job.

She said that she was waiting for news in a rescue center in Bali. The last time she spoke with him was Wednesday night.

She recalled his words: "I just got on a ship." "I told him to be careful, dear."

Silawati reported that she had called him repeatedly at 4 am on Thursday. No one answered.

Eko reported that rescue operations in the Bali Strait waters resumed Friday. This involved hundreds of rescuers and ships as well as helicopters. Rain and strong currents are predicted.

Officials said that transportation safety investigators will investigate the cause of sinking after the search has ended. Officials said that the ferry was not loaded when it went down.

In Indonesia, which is a nation with over 17,000 islands and lax safety regulations, vessels are often overcrowded, lacking in life-saving equipment.

(source: Reuters)