Basarnas Predicts 18 Missing from Selayar Ship Sinking Drifted Towards West Nusa Tenggara

The joint SAR team is still searching for 18 victims missing after the KM Nurul Salsa sank in the Selayar Islands Regency, South Sulawesi, who have yet to be found.

“As of now, there are still 18 victims, in line with the confirmation we have received from the families who reported to the SAR post,” said Basarnas Director of Operations, First Admiral TNI Yudhi Bramantyo, to reporters on Monday (20/7).

Yudhi said the total number of passengers and crew aboard the KM Nurul Salsa, which sank on Wednesday (15/7), was 78 people.

“59 survived, 1 died, and 18 victims are still being sought,” he said.

In this operation, Yudhi said, the joint SAR team received support from deployed vessels including KN SAR Kamajaya, KN SAR Puntadewa 250, KN SAR Pacitan 102, KRI Marlin 877 and KRI Hiu 634, as well as a Boeing B737-200 aircraft, fishermen and SAR auxiliary resources.

“Based on the Search and Rescue Marine Prediction (SARMAP) we have carried out, by day six the victims are more likely to have drifted southwest towards the islands of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), which is why we have involved SAR Mataram and Denpasar to be placed on standby,” he said.

Yudhi said the joint SAR team had evacuated seven victims of the KM Nurul Salsa, which sank in the waters of the Selayar Islands Regency, South Sulawesi, after they were found alive by a fishing vessel.

“On day four of the operation we evacuated five people, and on day five two more, all in safe condition,” said Yudhi.

To date, Yudhi said, the SAR operation has been divided into five sectors, deploying all available assets.

“Yesterday there were only four sectors; today we have added a fifth, and the area is somewhat wider at 1,980 square nautical miles,” he said.