Navy tools to be used in search for ferry dead

Indonesia’s military chief said specialist navy equipment would be deployed to pinpoint a ferry that sank in the crater lake of an ancient supervolcano, offering a glimmer of hope to distraught relatives that the bodies of more than 180 peoplepresumeddrowned will be recovered.

Only 18 people, including the captain, were rescued, and four have been confirmed dead. The ferry, massively overcrowded with passengers and motorcycles, sank early on Monday evening in waters that officials said are up to 500m deep.

Hundreds of people waiting at a small port for news of missing relatives performed an hour of mass Muslim and Christian prayers as the search on Lake Toba continued yesterday.

There was mounting anger that hardly any bodies have been recovered.