Jakarta - Rescue workers searched Sunday for eight missing people after a ferry sank in rough waters in eastern Indonesia, state media said.

Eight bodies were picked up from the sea and 48 other people survived the MV Mole ferry overturned near the Sula Islands district in North Maluku province Thursday, the state-run Antara news agency reported.

"Based on the preliminary report the MV overturned after being hit by huge waves. But we will continue to investigate the accident because we don't rule out the possibility it was caused by overload," Sula Island district police chief Rudi A Sudrajat said.

Two other boats collided in the Malacca Strait early Saturday, killing at least two people.

That accident occurred when MV Damai Lestari with 22 crewmen was hit by a tanker on Rokan Hilir district, 20 miles from Bagan Siapi-api harbor of Riau province. The Damai Lestari sank immediately. (dpa)