Rescue teams began a search operation early Tuesday for 27 people feared adrift on a raft in Indonesian waters after their boat sank in rough seas.
The vessel had departed from Taliabu Port in North Maluku province shortly after dusk on Sunday, bound for Kema in North Sulawesi. It went down in waters north of Taliabu Island, according to Muhammad Rizal, head of the search and rescue office in Palu.
According to the owner of the Nazila 05, the captain reported that high waves damaged the bow, causing the boat to sink during bad weather.
“All 27 people on board were able to evacuate using a longboat before the vessel sank,” Rizal said, adding that their whereabouts remain unknown.
Family members told authorities that the passengers had secured themselves to a raft, while the National Search and Rescue Agency said a rescue ship was heading toward the suspected area where the raft may be drifting in turbulent waters.
Search efforts also include an inflatable boat, with assistance from local fishermen, Rizal added.
The Nazila 05 was commonly used for carrying tourists and also operated as a fishing or small passenger vessel.
Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, relies heavily on boats for transport. However, maritime accidents are frequent due to lax safety measures and overcrowding.
