At least 15 people were killed and 19 others are missing after a ferry sank off the coast of Indonesia's Sulawesi island on Monday. The boat, carrying 40 passengers, sank just after midnight local time.

Six people were rescued and taken to the hospital for treatment. The cause of the sinking is still under investigation. The search and rescue efforts are underway, with two teams dividing their efforts between diving around the accident site and conducting a sweep above the water's surface.

Marine accidents are common in Indonesia due to poor safety standards and overloaded vessels. Ferries are frequently used despite the risks, as they are a common mode of transportation in the archipelago of 17,000 islands. This incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers faced by passengers on these overcrowded vessels.