Indonesia boat sinking rescuers found seven survivors after days at sea, while one person died and 18 others remained missing.
Seven survivors from an Indonesia boat sinking have been found alive after spending several days at sea, some clinging to a fishing structure and improvised pieces of floating debris.
The dramatic discoveries gave rescuers renewed hope after the KM Nurul Salsa suffered engine failure and sank near the Selayar Islands in South Sulawesi on Wednesday, July 15.
Five survivors, including a seven-year-old girl, were located on Saturday near Matallang Island. A fishing boat found them before darkness fell and transferred them to a search-and-rescue vessel.
They had remained at sea for about three days. Officials said the group survived by holding onto a fish trap and flotation devices assembled from jerry cans, cork and rope.
Two more survivors, identified as a 46-year-old woman and her 24-year-old son, were found on Sunday, July 19. Fishermen discovered them stranded on Balaloho Island after they reportedly reached the island using a makeshift raft.
Survivors Clung to Debris for Days
Local search-and-rescue official Muhammad Arif Anwar said passengers used whatever materials they could find after the vessel disappeared beneath the water.
“They rigged together jerry cans and pieces of cork tied up with rope, then climbed on top of them,” he said.
The five survivors located on Saturday included one man, three women and the young girl. They were reportedly exhausted and weak after spending days with limited food and drinking water.
Reports said they survived on biscuits and packets of instant noodles while waiting for a passing vessel to notice them.
The survivors told rescuers that they had originally formed part of a group of about 25 people. However, strong winds and rough seas gradually separated them from others in the water.
The mother and son found on Sunday also described a desperate struggle for survival. They reportedly said four other people had initially remained with them but did not reach safety.
Search teams continued looking for those still unaccounted for as increasingly difficult weather reduced visibility and made navigation more dangerous.
Indonesia Boat Sinking Figures Changed During Search
Authorities initially said 74 passengers and crew had been aboard the KM Nurul Salsa.
An update issued on Thursday listed 49 survivors, one confirmed death and 24 people missing. Those figures represented the information available during the early stage of the rescue operation.
However, officials later revised the estimated number aboard to 78 after further verification. Only 50 names had reportedly appeared on the passenger manifest.
By Sunday evening, rescuers had located seven additional survivors through the Saturday and Sunday operations. Authorities then said 18 people remained missing, while at least one person had been confirmed dead.
The changing totals reflected updated passenger verification as well as new discoveries during the search. Officials have therefore urged caution when comparing figures released at different stages of the operation.
More than 200 personnel joined the search, including Indonesian troops, police officers, civilian rescuers, local fishermen and nearby residents.
Five large vessels, a reconnaissance aircraft and a helicopter also supported the mission.
Search teams faced waves reportedly measuring between two and three metres. Strong winds repeatedly complicated efforts to cover the area around the sinking site.
Vessel Sank After Reported Engine Failure
The KM Nurul Salsa had departed Jampea Island and was travelling towards Benteng Port on Selayar Island.
Authorities said the wooden passenger vessel carried passengers and crew, as well as motorcycles, cattle and copra.
It reportedly experienced engine failure before sinking about 43 nautical miles, or 79 kilometres, from its destination.
The disaster has again raised questions about passenger manifests, overcrowding and maritime safety enforcement across Indonesia.
Passenger boats provide an essential transport link between thousands of Indonesian islands. However, authorities have repeatedly faced criticism over weak safety controls, unreliable passenger records and vessels travelling in dangerous weather.
In this case, the difference between the original manifest and the revised passenger total may complicate efforts to establish exactly who was aboard.
Investigators are expected to examine the condition of the vessel, its passenger records and the events surrounding the reported engine failure.
For the families of those still missing, the discovery of seven survivors offered a rare source of hope. Yet the worsening weather and the number of people still unaccounted for mean the emergency remains far from over.
Rescuers continued searching the waters and islands around Selayar as relatives waited for further news from one of Indonesia’s most difficult recent maritime rescue operations.
