One Killed, 20 Missing After Passenger Boat Sinks In Indonesian Waters

Published 19 July 2026 · health

One Killed, 20 Missing After Passenger Boat Sinks In Indonesian Waters Published By, Last Updated: July 19, 2026, 12:24 IST While the five survivors were

One Killed, 20 Missing After Passenger Boat Sinks In Indonesian Waters Published By, Last Updated: July 19, 2026, 12:24 IST While the five survivors were found afloat, clinging to a fish net laid out by a local fisherman, one person was said to have died during the incident Five survivors were rescued from a passenger boat that sank this week in eastern Indonesian waters | File photo: AFP Five survivors, including a seven-year-old girl, were rescued from a passenger boat that sank this week in eastern Indonesian waters. A search for 20 missing people is underway.

The KM Nurul Salsa with 78 people on board –– including passengers and crew –– experienced engine failure and sank Wednesday about 43 nautical miles (79 kilometres) from the port in the Selayar Islands, in South Sulawesi Province, according to PTI. While the five survivors were found afloat –– clinging to a fish net laid out by a local fisherman –– one person was said to have died during the incident, according to Muhammad Arif Anwar, head of the Makassar Search and Rescue Office. The five survivors, one man and four women, were rescued before dark and evacuated by a fishing boat.

Eventually, they were carried to the search and rescue boat before being taken to the port in Benteng town for health examination. Passenger boats are a vital mode of transportation in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands. However, weak safety regulations and overcrowding often lead to maritime accidents. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Key Questions Answered Could more survivors be found in the coming days? A search for 20 missing people is underway after a passenger boat sank in Indonesian waters. Five survivors were rescued.

The KM Nurul Salsa sank Wednesday about 43 nautical miles from the port in the Selayar Islands. One person died during the incident. Location: Indonesia First Published: July 19, 2026, 12:24 IST News world One Killed, 20 Missing After Passenger Boat Sinks In Indonesian Waters Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...