Basarnas Officially Halts Search for KM Nurul Salsa Victims in Selayar Waters

The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has officially ended the search operation for victims of the sunken motor vessel KM Nurul Salsa in the waters off Selayar, South Sulawesi. The decision was announced by Basarnas Chief Air Marshal Mohammad Syafii, who stated that the operation was no longer considered effective.

Syafii explained that the termination of the search was a joint decision made in consultation with the families of the 14 passengers who remain missing. "With our combined capabilities and potential, some victims are indeed declared missing, and that decision was taken together because the operation was deemed no longer effective," Syafii said at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Although the active search phase has officially closed, Basarnas emphasised that it remains open to resuming operations should new indications or clues emerge in the future. "However, if there are signs, we will certainly reopen the operation to carry out a follow-up search," Syafii affirmed.

KM Nurul Salsa sank in the waters of the Selayar Islands Regency on 15 July 2026. A joint SAR team conducted an intensive search for seven days, which was subsequently extended by three days, bringing the total operation duration to 10 days. Based on the final operational data evaluated on Friday (24/7), the evacuation results confirmed four fatalities, while 14 passengers remain unaccounted for.

The closure marks the end of the active field search, but monitoring of any information from coastal communities will continue to follow up on any possible new findings regarding the missing victims.