Rescue officials have found several more survivors from the ferry sinking in Indonesia, even though five days have passed. Two were found on a deserted island, and several others were discovered floating in the open sea.
On Sunday, 19 Jul 2026 GMT+7, rescue officials revealed they found two survivors from the passenger ferry sinking off Indonesia's eastern coast on an uninhabited island, one day after rescuing five survivors who had been floating in the sea.
The ferry, carrying more than 70 passengers, sank on Wednesday, 15 Jul 2026 GMT+7, while sailing near Selayar Island, a small island south of Sulawesi.
On Sunday, rescue teams found a man and a woman who had successfully reached the small island by clinging to self-made flotation devices. They said four others who had been with them initially did not survive.
“Some began to lose strength and could no longer hold onto the raft, eventually being swept away by currents,” local search and rescue officer Muhammad Arif Anwar told AFP. “We hope to still find their companions.”
Another five survivors, including a 7-year-old girl, were rescued on Saturday, 18 Jul 2026 GMT+7, after floating at sea for three days.
“After the ship sank, each person survived by using whatever equipment or items they could find and adapted them as flotation devices,” Mr. Arif told AFP Sunday morning. “They tied together fuel cans and foam scraps with ropes and climbed onto them.”
This group was rescued Saturday afternoon by local fishermen who radioed authorities for help. The survivors were found exhausted and weak after days adrift without sufficient food or water, surviving on instant noodles and a few packs of canned bread.
Rescue teams saved more than 50 people on Thursday, 16 Jul 2026 GMT+7, one day after the incident. Although the passenger list indicated only 50 on board, further checks revealed there were actually 78 passengers.
Mr. Arif said five large boats, one patrol aircraft, and one helicopter are currently being used in ongoing operations to search for 18 people still missing.
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Source:cna