REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MAKASSAR -- The thirteen bodies recovered on Wednesday of the passengers of KM Marina, which capsized in Bone Bay, would be moved from Wajo District's Siwa Hospital to Bhayangkara Hospital in Makassar, South Sulawesi, for further identification.

"We are now still finalizing the report of the examination conducted on the bodies before they are taken for further examination at the Bhayangkara hospital," head of medical health of the South Sulawesi police command Senior Commissioner Raden Harjuno noted when questioned about the findings of the examination conducted on the bodies here on Thursday.

He said the decision to move the bodies to Makassar was taken due to limited facilities at Siwa Hospital, including for matching ante-mortem data with their family members.

"The room is small and supporting equipment, such as forensic radiology and others, are not available. Hence, today, after the initial examination is conducted, they will be moved to Makassar where adequate equipment is available to complete the process," he explained.

The search and rescue team, on the lookout for the boat's passengers in the district of Wajo, South Sulawesi, had recovered 13 bodies on Wednesday.

The team then moved the bodies to the ante-mortem post set up by the South-West Sulawesi police command.

The command's spokesman, Senior Commissioner Frna Barung Mangera, revealed that the ante-mortem post was set up to identify the bodies of the boat mishap, including the corpses that are no longer recognizable.

"The post helps the families identify their members to ease further identification when their data are matched with those of the victims," he remarked.

Barung noted that following the recovery of the 13 bodies on Wednesday, the total count so far has reached 55, adding that 40 passengers were found alive.

KM Marina set off from Tobakun Port in Kolaka Utara, North Sulawesi, at around 1 p.m. local time on December 19. Due to bad weather, the boat was later hit by high waves.

The boat developed leakage and at 2:30 p.m. local time lost contact before it finally sank in Bone Bay. The fiber boat was expected to arrive at Bangsalae Port at 3 p.m. local time.

KM Marina was carrying 94 adults and 12 child passengers when the incident occurred.

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