Recently, a boat called the KM Narul Sulsa overturned in the waters of Eastern Indonesia. Now local authorities have successfully saved 5 of those passengers, but over 20 remain missing. The boat was carrying 78 passengers at the time of its sinking.
Indonesia Boat Incident Latest News: 5 Passengers Rescued After Deadly Boat CollapseÂ
Authorities in Indonesia successfully rescued 5 people in the waters of Eastern Indonesia. The five survivors were found late Saturday afloat, clinging to a fish trap belonging to a local fisherman, Muhammad Arif Anwar. The 5 rescued people include four women and one man. They were saved by rescuers using an evacuation boat. However, over 20 passengers are still feared missing with rescue efforts expected to continue. Â Previously 52 passengers were rescued.
Indonesia Boat Incident Latest News: What Happened in Eastern Indonesia?Â
Earlier this week, a boat called the KM Narul Sulsa departed from the Jampea Island and sank about 43 nautical miles (79 kilometres) from the port in the Selayar Islands, in South Sulawesi Province.Â
While initial estimates suggested that there were 74 passengers on board, the figure was later raised to 78. At least 1 person died due to the incident. The boat was headed to the port of Benteng in the Selayar Islands.Â
Indonesia Boat Incident Latest News: Cause of the IncidentÂ
While an investigation is now underway, preliminary findings indicate that the incident happened due to overcrowding, the boat’s engine failure and excess cargo (17 tons of copra, multiple motorcycles). To make matters worse, the area where the boat sank is known to experience rough weather, with strong winds and waves reaching up to 2.5 meters. All of these factors culminated in the sinking of the boat.  In Indonesia, overcrowding is a frequent cause for such incidents.
Indonesia Boat Incident Latest News: Local Authorities ResponseÂ
The Makassar Search and Rescue Office launched a prompt and extensive rescue operation after the boat’s sinking. A massive fleet that includes five large rescue vessels, a specialized reconnaissance aircraft, and a helicopter has been deployed to search the waters of South Sulawesi.Â
While immediate medical attention was given to the rescued passengers. Indonesian maritime authorities are now co-ordinating with Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) to navigate rough 2.5-metre waves and strong winds that continue to pose some disturbances. An emergency crisis center was also set up at the Selayar Islands harbour.
