JAKARTA - A ferry boat has sunk in a river in Indonesia's East Kalimantan Province late Thursday, leaving three people dead and 24 others missing.

Nini, an official from the local search and rescue agency said the boat carrying both passengers and cargo listed only 97 on its manifest, but it turned out that the boat carried more after families of the missing people reported.

"Three bodies were recovered and 24 remain missing, while 79 passengers were rescued," she said, adding that the search and rescue was in progress with the help of local military and police.

The cause of this accident was still unknown yet, she added. ?

Water transport is one of favorite transport means in the vast archipelago country, but lacking of safety has frequently triggered accidents.