13 Missing in Tomini Bay, Basarnas Conducts Search

The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has deployed the specialised vessel KN SAR Bhisma to search for 13 passengers of a motorboat reported missing in the waters of Tomini Bay, Tojo Una-Una Regency, Central Sulawesi. A joint SAR team has been dispatched to comb the incident location.

“The joint SAR team was dispatched from Luwuk Port towards Tomini Bay waters to search for the victims,” said Head of the Palu SAR Office, Muh Rizal, in Palu on Saturday (25/7). Rizal explained that the KN SAR Bhisma is carrying 13 personnel along with other supporting SAR equipment. The vessel departed from Banggai Regency at 09:40 WITA and is expected to arrive at the search location around 19:40 WITA.

Based on reports received, the motorboat was carrying 11 foreign tourists and two skippers. The group departed from Sanctum Una-Una Dive Resort on Friday (24/7) at around 07:30 WITA, heading for Marisa Port in Gorontalo Province. The journey was estimated to take several hours, with an expected arrival at the destination at 11:00 WITA. However, by 15:00 WITA, the group had not yet arrived at the destination port.

“By 15:00 WITA, the group had not arrived, so the tour guide took the initiative to report the incident to the Gorontalo SAR Office to conduct a search,” Rizal stated. Responding to the report, the Palu SAR Office sent a joint team to assist with the search on the second day of the SAR operation. This team will join the rescue team that had already been conducting operations.

“We dispatched our joint team to assist with the search, consisting of personnel from the Luwuk SAR Post, KN SAR Bhisma personnel, and Polairud personnel from the Banggai Police, carrying communication devices, medical equipment, and evacuation equipment,” Rizal added. As of now, the joint SAR team continues to conduct search efforts around the coordinates believed to be the point where the motorboat lost contact in the waters of Tomini Bay.