Indonesian police confirmed on Sunday that a ferry carrying 213 passengers sank off Indonesia's Sumatra island.

Indonesian Waters Police Chief Yasin Kosasih said Dumai Express 10 sank off Karimun island when it was on its way from Batam island to Pekanbaru in Riau province.

"The Dumai Express 10 sank on 9:30 local time with 213 passengers onboard. The evacuation efforts are underway. Two ships nearby managed to pick up some of the survivors who were floating on the sea," Yasin Kosasih was quoted as saying by Metro TV.

Yasin said that the rescue efforts were hindered by rough waves as high as four to six meters.

Yasin also said that another vessel, the Dumai Express 15, serving from Batam to Moro port was stranded on rocks due to high tides and strong winds. All 278 passengers onboard the Dumai Ekspress 15 vessel were reportedly safe.

Meanwhile, Riau Police Chief Puji Hartanto said that 46 passengers from Dumai Express 10 have reached shores.

He said that 1 passenger was found dead. He predicted that the number of the deaths will likely rise.

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