Indonesia has increased the number of aircraft and vessels to search and rescue the victims of a capsized ship in the central parts of the country, a rescuer said.

Another helicopter was deployed to the scene in the Makassar Strait on Tuesday, bringing the total to two in operation.

Isran A, a rescuer at the information centre of the search and rescue office in South Sulawesi province, said another ship would also help the mission on Wednesday.

“The search focuses on the northeast of the spot where the ship capsized with more helicopters and personnel.

“And, according to a plan, another ship will also help the mission in June,“ he told Xinhua via phone.

Mr Isran said the number of missing victims rose to 19 on Tuesday from 11 a day earlier.

As many as 31 people had been rescued safely from the boat incident, according to him.

Rescuers have extended the search area to 40 nautical miles to the northeast of the location where the ship capsized, Mukti Ali, a rescuer at the search and rescue office, told Xinhua.

The ship sank after being hit by huge waves in the Makassar Strait on Thursday, but rescuers got the information about the incident on Saturday, according to Wahid D.J., a senior official at the search and rescue office.

The ship suffered from an engine failure when the huge waves hit it, he told Xinhua. 

(Xinhua/NAN)