Ferry survivors found adrift nine days after sinking

MAKASSAR, Indonesia, Jan 8 (Reuters) Fourteen survivors of an Indonesian ferry sinking have been rescued after drifting on a life raft for nine days, a top search and rescue official said today.

The ferry sank in the Java Sea with more than 600 aboard after it capsized in mountainous seas around midnight on December 29.

"They were found yesterday, 15 of them. One of them died this morning. He had been in critical condition. They were found by a ship called KM Mandiri, and they are now being transported to Makassar," Bambang Karnoyudho said, referring to the main city in the south of Sulawesi island.

It was not immediately clear what the survivors did for food and water during their ordeal, although at least some of the life rafts had rations and water aboard.

The latest survivors were found some 480 km from the accident site early yesterday morning, according to Karnoyudho, who is head of the national search and rescue agency.

At least 248 survivors have been found, some clinging to wreckage or floating in life vests, and others on life rafts.

Rescuers have had difficulty reaching some survivors spotted from the air because of rough weather, and said strong winds and currents were taking survivors and the dead hundreds of kilometres from the accident site.

Indonesian rescue aircraft and helicopters also dropped food and water to some of those who were spotted but could not be immediately rescued.

REUTERS AB VV1514