12 survivors found after speedboat sinks in Tomini Bay, captain still missing

A total of 12 victims of a speedboat sinking in the waters of the Gulf of Tomini have been found alive by a joint Search and Rescue (SAR) team, while one person, the boat’s captain, remains missing. Head of the Gorontalo Search and Rescue Office (KPP) Heriyanto stated on Saturday that the team located the victims on a raft. “We have received information from Tojo Una-Una Regency that 11 passengers, who are foreign tourists, and one crew member were found safe and have been evacuated to a resort in Tojo Una-Una,” Heriyanto said. According to information received by the Gorontalo KPP, the speedboat carrying the tourists departed from Tojo Una-Una, Central Sulawesi Province, on Friday morning bound for Marisa, Pohuwato Regency, Gorontalo Province. However, while navigating the Gulf of Tomini, the vessel was struck by waves due to bad weather, causing it to break in two and sink. He stated that although most passengers were rescued, one victim, the captain named Ardiansyah, is still missing. He said visibility was very poor at the time of the incident due to fog, which prevented other victims from seeing the captain, who is believed to have still been on the boat. He affirmed that the SAR operation under his command as Search Mission Coordinator (SMC) will continue to run at maximum effort.