The 12 survivors would be evacuated to a hospital in Ambon City, Secretary of the Maluku Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) Kifly Wakanno said here on Sunday.
Two of the survivors were injured of fish bites.
The ship was believed to have carried around 27 to 29 passengers on board.
One of the survivors said the ship had left Slamet Riyadi harbor in Ambon on Saturday at around 10 p.m. local time, and sank on Sunday at around 1 or 2 a.m. local time.
Kifly Wakanno said the search and rescue efforts have been intensified with the assistance of the Ambon Search and Rescue team and harbor administrator.
The ill-fated ship was strongly hit by huge waves in Alang sea, West Leihitu Sub-district, Ambon Island, Central Maluku District, before it sank.
"We urge coastal area inhabitants of West Leihitu as well as Leihitu to help look for other survivors whose number is still confusing," Head of the West Leihitu Police office Inspector II Zet Riry said.(*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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