23 die as wooden ship sinks in Indonesia

At least 23 people were killed and six others were missing after a wooden ship sank last week in a river in Indonesia's East Kalimantan province, a rescuer said Monday.

The rescuers have evacuated 83 people, said Rima Trisetyaningsih, who is in charge of the East Kalimantan Search and Rescue Office.

"Overloading is possibly the cause of the accident in Mahakam river," she told Xinhua by phone.

KM Surya Indah ship capsized in the river located between Melak and Maura Paku at 11 p.m. Thursday.

Search and rescue operations continued Monday.