The Indonesian rescue team Friday evacuated 21 survivors from a ferry that sank in the Bangka Strait off Sumatra island late Thursday and found four bodies.

"The 21 survivors... have been transported to (South Sumatra capital of) Palembang," officer Sulistiono who joins the rescue team told leading news website Detikcom.

It remains unclear the number of passengers but local media reports put it at around 60.

The accident occurred at around 22:00 local time (15:00 GMT) Thursday when the ferry ran across the 50-km strait from Palembang to Bangka island and was suddenly slammed by a giant wave, local authorities said.

The Tristra ferry has a load capacity of 108 passengers and 17 motor vehicles.

Source: Xinhua