SULAWESI, INDONESIA — Rescuers have pulled dozens of people from the water after a boat carrying more than 100 people was caught in strong seas off the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on December 19.

A fiberglass ferry en route from the town of Kolaka to Siwa across the gulf of Bone in southern Sulawesi was carrying 122 passengers, including 110 passengers and 12 crew, AFP reports.

Reports say the vessel ran into a violent storm and was buffeted by waves up to 14 feet high. Roughly 13 miles southwest of Siwa the ferry began to take on water and the crew issued a distress call. People began to abandon the stricken craft.

Reuters reports Authorities lost contact with the ferry shortly after the distress call was made.

AFP and Reuters report a search vessel found and rescued as many as 25 people. Two children are confirmed to have died, a Transport Ministry spokesman JA Barata told Reuters.

Early reports that the ferry had sunk have been dismissed by police who believe the vessel is still afloat but with a broken engine and out of radio contact.

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