Indonesian ferry toll rises to 26

Three more bodies have been recovered after a ferry sank off Indonesia's Sulawesi island at the weekend, bringing the confirmed death toll to 26, with over 50 still missing, an official said.

"We received a report this morning from officials in North Kolaka district that local fishermen found three bodies near the waters of Lawata village in Southeast Sulawesi," Alamsyah, a local disaster management official said on Thursday.

At least 51 people were still listed as missing after the Marina Baru ferry sank about 22 kilometres from its destination port in Siwa on Saturday, he said.

Wednesday's operation resulted in 13 bodies being found in the waters of North Luwu and East Luwu districts in South Sulawesi province, which is about 200 kilometres from where the fibreglass ship capsized, Alamsyah said.

"All ships deployed for the rescue efforts are heading to Luwu," he said.

The ship was on a six-hour journey to Siwa when huge waves damaged the ship and caused its engine to stall, officials said.