September 26, 2012 - 1:05 AM
JAKARTA, Indonesia - An official says eight people have died after an Indonesian ferry collided with an oil tanker and sank in the Sunda Straits, west of the main island of Java.
Transportation Ministry spokesman Bambang Ervan says 208 crew and passengers have been evacuated after today's accident.
The total number of passengers aboard the ferry was not immediately known, and rescuers were waiting for the manifest.
The ferry Bahuga Jaya links Java and southern Sumatra island.
It went down after colliding with the South African-flagged Norr Gastar about six kilometres off Bakahuni port in Sumatra.
It was carrying 78 vehicles. There was no immediate word on whether the tanker was damaged.
News from © The Associated Press, 2012