Missing tourist boat carrying Dutch passengers found off Indonesian coast

©Crispin Jones via Unsplash

A tourist boat off the Indonesian coast has been found after a harrowing period of uncertainty. All those on board were found alive. Only the captain remains missing. On board were two Belgians, four members of a Dutch family, one Czech, three Germans, one Frenchwoman, and two Indonesians, including the captain and a crew member.

The vessel disappeared from radar on Friday morning while en route to Marisa Port, after departing from Central Sulawesi. According to Indonesian rescue services, the report came in when the boat still hadn’t arrived by noon, after which a search operation was immediately launched.

Captain still missing

After the shipwreck and more than 24 hours adrift, the people on board were eventually rescued. The passengers and the crew member were eventually found safe. The captain, a 29-year-old Indonesian, is still missing. Emergency services are continuing the search for him. According to initial reports, the speedboat was caught in severe weather. Those on board reportedly got themselves to safety on a life raft, while the captain became separated from the group in thick fog. Those on board have since been transported to a resort in the Tojo Unauna region, where they are being cared for. The rescue operation was carried out by joint teams that systematically searched the vessel’s presumed route and the surrounding waters.

For the families involved, the disappearance was a frightening moment, especially since it was unclear whether the boat had sunk or was still adrift at sea. Indonesian authorities are continuing to monitor the search area for the time being, as it was not immediately clear exactly what had happened to the vessel.

(©Crispin Jones via Unsplash) - illustrative image of Sulawesi.