Indonesian officials continue search efforts for 24 missing persons after a passenger ferry sank off the coast of South Sulawesi province. At least one fatality has been reported, while 49 survivors have been rescued.
The incident occurred last Wednesday after the passenger ferry KM Nurul Salsa experienced engine failure and sank at sea about 43 nautical miles, or approximately 79 kilometers, from its destination port in the Selayar Islands, South Sulawesi province.
Muhammad Arif Anwar, head of the Makassar Search and Rescue Office, revealed that authorities have so far rescued 49 survivors and are continuing to search for 24 missing individuals.
Anwar stated that the main obstacle to the mission is adverse weather conditions, with waves around 2 to 2.5 meters high and strong winds at the accident site, making the search difficult.
The search and rescue operation involves personnel from the Indonesian military, police, rescue units, local fishermen, and community members, all working together to locate the missing.
Authorities reported that KM Nurul Salsa departed from Jampea Island on Wednesday morning with a total of 74 passengers and crew. The vessel was also carrying cargo including dried coconut meat, cattle, and several motorcycles.
Indonesia, an archipelago nation with over 17,000 islands, relies heavily on passenger ferries as a primary mode of transportation. However, maritime accidents frequently occur due to lax safety standards and issues with overloading passengers and cargo, which have been major contributing factors in recent incidents.
,AP
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