Rescuers Find 10 More Survivors of Sunken Boat in Indonesia

KOMPAS.com - Three days after a cargo boat sank in the Makasar Strait off the coast of Indonesia, 10 more survivors have been located, including the captain and other crew.

Of the total 42 people on board, 31 have been rescued since search and rescue operations began on Saturday, May 28, said Djunaidi, the head of the provincial search and rescue agency. Like many Indonesians, Djunaidi goes by only one name.

The KM Ladang Pertiwi 02 sank in bad weather on Friday afternoon. The boat left on Thursday from a seaport in Makasar heading to Kalmas Island in Pangkep Regency, South Sulawesi Province, with stops along its route to visit some islands in Makasar Strait.

Also read: 11 Indonesians Killed after Boat Sinks due to Bad Weather in Malaysian Waters: Foreign Ministry

The 10 survivors rescued on Monday morning by a local fisherman were taken to their home at Pamantauan Island, located in Makasar Strait.

"They are safe and in good condition," Djunaidi said.

The sunken vessel was initially said to be a passenger ferry, but Djunaidi later clarified that it was a cargo boat carrying construction materials.

Thirty-six passengers had asked for a ride on the boat with its six crew members.

Also read: Six Dead, Several Missing after Boat Sinks in Bali Strait

The search and rescue team is looking for the 11 remaining passengers, officials said.

Ferry tragedies are common in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, where ferries are often used as transport, and safety regulations can lapse.

In 2018, an overcrowded ferry with about 200 people on board sank in a deep volcanic crater lake in North Sumatra province, killing 167 people.

In one of the country's worst recorded disasters, an overcrowded passenger ship sank in February 1999 with 332 people aboard.

There were only 20 survivors.

Source: Associated Press