PALU, INDONESIA — Indonesian search teams rescued 21 people from a raft on Tuesday morning, a day after their boat sank in rough seas. Rescuers found the survivors on a raft about 46 kilometers from the location where the boat sank in the northern waters of Taliabu Island.
The boat Nazila 05 departed from a port on Taliabu Island in North Maluku province just after dusk Sunday bound for Kema in North Sulawesi province. The vessel sank after high waves during rough weather broke its bow, according to the boat's captain. All crew managed to board a longboat before the vessel sank.
Officials earlier reported that 27 people were missing after the boat sank. Six people listed on the boat's manifest had canceled their plans to join the trip, survivors reported. Everyone on board the boat was found safely.
The National Search and Rescue Agency said a rescue vessel was heading toward the estimated location just after dawn Tuesday where the raft was believed to be drifting in choppy waters. The search operation involved two rescue vessels and was assisted by local fishermen. "All survivors located by rescuers will be taken to a nearby city of Gorontalo," said Muhammad Rizal, head of the search and rescue office in Palu city.
The survivors were mostly fishing crew, and relatives reported that the survivors had tied themselves to a raft. The Nazila 05 was frequently used to transport tourists and was also known locally as a fishing or small passenger vessel.
Indonesia is an archipelago with more than 17,000 islands, and boats are a common form of transportation in Indonesia.