Ship with 70 people sinks off Indonesian island

The accident occurred around 64 kilometres off the port of Sibolga on western Sumatra.

A ship carrying more than 70 passengers and crew sunk off Indonesia's Sumatra island on Thursday amid bad weather, a naval spokesman said.

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The accident occurred around 64 kilometres off the port of Sibolga on western Sumatra, Lt Col Jaka Sentosa told el-Shinta radio station.

Rescue vessels were heading to the scene, but were being hampered by large waves, he said.

"The information we have received is that the boat sprang a leak and that the weather was very bad," he said.

Sentosa said at least two foreigners, reported to be US citizens, were on board.

He said he had received a report that a passing ship had picked up some survivors, but could not confirm it.