At least one person is dead and 14 are missing after a rickety boat heading from a coastal town to Indonesia's Sumatra island sank in a storm, police said today.

Local police chief Baljit Singh said the tragedy happened early Tuesday.

Baljit said there were a total of 22 people - believed to be Indonesians - on the boat including two children and three crew members.

"We have recovered the body of a child," he said.

Baljit said five boats and 60 officers were involved in the search and rescue operations, adding that seven people who were rescued were being treated at a local hospital.

Kamsani Abdul Rahman, southern regional marine police chief told AFP that the boat capsized during a thunderstorm.

- AFP