21 rescued after boat sinks in Indonesian waters

Indonesian search and rescue teams have rescued all 21 people aboard after the passenger vessel Nazila 05 sank in rough seas near Taliabu Island, officials said Tuesday. The boat had departed Taliabu port in North Maluku province late Sunday, bound for the coastal village of Kema in North Sulawesi, when high waves broke its bow , forcing passengers to abandon the vessel.

Muhammad Rizal, head of the search and rescue office in Palu city, said those aboard managed to evacuate onto a longboat before transferring to a raft as the vessel went down. The captain had earlier relayed distress information to the boat’s owner, Rifani Samatia, reporting that the ship had been damaged by strong waves.

Rescuers later located the survivors about 46 kilometers from the sinking site in choppy waters after local fishermen helped spot the drifting raft. Rizal said most of the survivors were fishing crew. They were rescued and are being transported to the nearby city of Gorontalo for medical checks and assistance .

Authorities had initially reported 27 people missing , but survivors later confirmed that six passengers listed on the manifest had canceled their plans and were not on board when the incident occurred. With all 21 actual passengers accounted for, the operation shifted from a search for missing people to recovery and support for survivors.

The Nazila 05, often used to transport tourists and local passengers and also known locally as a fishing vessel, was overwhelmed by severe weather. The incident highlights Indonesia’s continuing challenges with maritime safety and overcrowded sea travel across its vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands.