601 Ship Accidents Since Early 2026: 239 Dead, 203 Missing

National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Chief Air Marshal Mohammad Syafii has revealed data on ship accidents occurring since January 2026. He stated that there have been 601 ship accidents with a death toll reaching 239 people.

The data was presented by Syafii during a meeting with Commission V of the House of Representatives (DPR) in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday (19/8/2026). He noted that the figures recorded cover incidents since the beginning of 2026.

“We would like to report on this occasion that, based on the operations we have carried out from January to 15 August 2026, we recorded 601 SAR operations,” said Syafii.

From the 601 ship accidents, 3,607 victims were recorded. A total of 239 people were reported dead and 203 missing.

“Of the total operations carried out, there were 3,607 affected victims, 3,165 were rescued alive, 239 were found deceased, and 203 have been declared missing,” he said.

Of the total victim figures, 220 were foreign nationals. The ship accidents were caused by a variety of factors.

“Of the 3,607 victims, 220 were foreign nationals. The types of accidents ranged from leaking vessels to medical evacuation missions,” he concluded.