Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday sent a message of condolences to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono over heavy casualties of shipwrecks in the waters off Indonesia's Central Java province and the Bangka Strait.

On behalf of the Chinese government and people, President Hu extended condolences to the victims of shipwrecks and expressed sympathy to their families.

On Thursday evening, a passenger ferry sank in waters off South Sumatra province, leaving one dead and 31 others missing.

Early Saturday, a ship carrying more than 600 people capsized in the waters off Indonesia's Central Java province.

The Indonesian Transportation Ministry said 176 survivors had been rescued by Sunday noon and the other passengers were still missing.

Source: Xinhua