A passenger ferry sank in waters off South Sumatra province on Thursday evening, leaving one dead and 31 others missing, police said on Friday.

The 288-ton Tree Star ferry capsized in the Sunsang straits river 10 minutes after leaving Palembang city toward Muntok island in neighboring Bangka Belitung province, said provincial police spokesman Abu Sofa Ibrahim.

"The total crew was 51 persons. One was found dead, 19 survived, and the rest are still missing," he told Xinhua on telephone from the province.

Searching of the missing persons is underway now, he said.

The spokesman said it was not clear the cause of the accident.

Source: Xinhua