Five people rescued after Indonesia boat sinks, at least ۲۰ still missing

The survivors were found clinging to a fish trap and floating debris at sea three days after the boat sank.

Five people have been rescued, including a seven-year-old girl, who were stranded at sea off the Indonesian coast for three days after their boat sank south of Sulawesi. A search is ongoing for at least ۲۰ others.

The five survivors – one man, three women and the girl – were located by a fishing boat before dark on Saturday near Matallang Island off the coast of Sulawesi and taken to a search-and-rescue vessel.

They had stayed afloat by clinging to a fish trap and buoyant debris after the KM Nurul Salsa suffered engine failure and sank on Wednesday with ۷۸ passengers and crew members on board.

“After the ship sank, each of them saved themselves using whatever equipment or makeshift flotation they could find,” local search-and-rescue official Muhammad Arif Anwar said.

“They rigged together jerry cans and pieces of cork tied up with rope, then climbed on top of them.”

They told rescuers they had been part of a group of ۲۵ people, but during their ordeal they were separated from the others by strong winds.

Local media reported ۴۷ people had been rescued the day after the boat sank, and one person is known to have drowned.

Five large ships, a reconnaissance aircraft and a helicopter are being used in ongoing search efforts for those still missing.

The KM Nurul Salsa was en route from Jampea Island to the port of Benteng on Selayar Island in South Sulawesi province. It sank about ۴۳ nautical miles (۷۹km) from the port.

Passenger boats are a common form of transport in Indonesia, an archipelago with more than ۱۷,۰۰۰ islands. Lax safety standards and problems with overcrowding frequently result in accidents.

Earlier this month, at least six people died and dozens went missing after a ferry carrying ۶۵ people sank off Indonesia’s resort island of Bali.