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A major search-and-rescue operation is underway in eastern Indonesia after a vessel carrying 27 people sank off the coast of Taliabu Island on Monday.
The boat, identified as the Nazila 05, encountered severe weather and high waves shortly after departing for the coastal village of Kema on Sunday evening.
Authorities were alerted to the disaster Monday morning after the ship’s captain reported that the vessel’s bow had broken before it finally went down in the rough seas.
According to the Palu Search and Rescue Agency, the captain informed the shipowner at approximately 4:00 am local time that the crew and passengers had initiated a “self-evacuation” into a longboat.
Despite this emergency measure, the current location of the survivors and their small rescue craft remains unknown.
A specialised team, supported by a helicopter, a rescue ship, and local fishing boats, is currently scouring the northern waters of North Maluku province for any signs of the missing group.
Maritime accidents are a frequent occurrence across the Indonesian archipelago, often attributed to a combination of inclement weather and inconsistent safety standards.
This latest incident follows a series of recent tragedies in the region, including the sinking of a tourist boat in January that resulted in multiple fatalities.
Rescuers are now racing against time and increasingly challenging sea conditions to locate the Nazila 05 survivors.
