Basarnas Makassar Searches for 24 Missing Passengers in Selayar Waters

The Makassar Class A Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas) has launched a SAR operation following the sinking of the passenger vessel KM Nurul Salsa in the waters west of Polassi Island, Selayar Islands Regency, South Sulawesi. “Our initial data indicated 50 passengers. However, after re-verification with relevant parties, the total number of people on board reached 70. The joint SAR team is currently searching for 24 people who remain missing,” said Head of Basarnas Makassar Muhammad Arif Anwar on Thursday. The KM Nurul Salsa departed from Jampea Island bound for Benteng Selayar at around 05.00 WITA on Wednesday. During the voyage, the vessel suffered engine failure in the waters west of Polassi Island, approximately 43 nautical miles from Benteng Selayar. Upon receiving the report, Arif said his team immediately deployed SAR personnel to search for and assist the passengers. “As soon as we received information about the KM Nurul Salsa experiencing engine failure in Selayar waters, we immediately mobilised SAR elements to search for and evacuate all passengers and crew,” he said. During the operation, the KM Harapan Kita, which departed from Jampea Island, successfully located and evacuated a number of passengers from the KM Nurul Salsa on Thursday at around 04.00 WITA. A total of 41 people, including crew members, were evacuated by the KM Harapan Kita from a location 18 nautical miles from the incident site. Meanwhile, six other people were rescued by a fishing boat in the vicinity and evacuated to Polassi Island. Arif stressed that all joint SAR elements will continue to make maximum efforts in accordance with SAR operational procedures. He requested prayers so that the team can locate the remaining victims as quickly as possible. “The victim data is still not final, as the joint SAR team is still awaiting information from families. We hope there will be no further reports of family members being on board the KM Nurul Salsa,” he concluded. The SAR operation is ongoing, with the search focused around the incident site and areas determined based on Search and Rescue Planning (Sarmap) calculations. The joint SAR operation involves the Selayar SAR Post Rescue Team, the Makassar Basarnas Office Rescue Team, the Indonesian Navy, KRI Marlin 877 crew, KM Harapan Kita crew, Selayar BPBD, the harbourmaster, Selayar SROP, water police, and fishing boats assisting in the evacuation process.