Overview
- The KM Nurul Salsa suffered engine failure and sank while en route from Jampea Island, which sank on Wednesday with about 78 people aboard according to rescue tallies.
- Rescuers have recovered roughly 47–52 people in the days after the sinking and found five survivors clinging to a fish trap on Saturday and two more — a mother and son — on Balaloho Island the next day.
- At least one person has been confirmed dead and roughly 18–20 people remain unaccounted for as large search-and-rescue operations continue.
- More than 200 personnel from BASARNAS, the military, police, local fishermen and residents are involved in the search, which is being hampered by strong winds and 2–3 metre waves and uses ships, a reconnaissance aircraft and a helicopter.
- Survivors say they stayed afloat using improvised flotation such as jerry cans and pieces of cork and subsisted on instant noodles and biscuits, highlighting persistent problems with inaccurate manifests, overcrowding and safety enforcement on Indonesia’s passenger boats.