Basarnas Temporarily Suspends Search for 14 Missing KM Nurul Salsa Victims
The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has officially and temporarily suspended the SAR operation for 14 victims of the KM Nurul Salsa accident, which sank in the waters of the Selayar Islands Regency, South Sulawesi. The suspension was implemented after a joint team conducted a 10-day search following the vessel’s sinking on Wednesday, 15 July 2026.
Head of the Makassar Basarnas Office, Muhammad Arif Anwar, explained that according to the Standard Operating Procedure or Circular Letter Number 5 from the Head of Basarnas, the standard search limit is seven days. However, the team had extended the operation by three days based on field evaluations. “The closure is planned for this afternoon, a temporary closure. The instruction from central leadership is to temporarily close on day 10,” Arif stated at the South Sulawesi Regional Police Medical and Health Division Office in Makassar on Friday (24/7/2026).
Although officially closed, Arif emphasised that the SAR operation could be reopened at any time if there is a valid report regarding the discovery of victims. However, the focus would then shift to an evacuation operation. “If there is a report later regarding the finding of victims, the SAR operation may be reopened, but only an evacuation operation for the victims will be carried out, after which they will be handed over to the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team for identification,” he clarified.
Based on accounts from survivors, there were initially 19 people on one large raft before it eventually split into four smaller rafts. This caused the victims to become separated across a wide area of water. The Joint SAR Team, assisted by personnel and equipment from the Indonesian National Armed Forces, had focused the search around Sabalana Island and Sanana Island. This area presents unique challenges as it contains approximately 20 small, uninhabited islands.
Arif added that the discovery of two deceased victims in the Sabalana Island area on the seventh day had served as the basis for the operation’s extension. The last victim was found on Mattalang Island, which is also uninhabited. By day 10, the passenger manifest data had been re-verified by the police at the Benteng SAR Post together with the Selayar Regency Government, changing the total from 78 people to 76 people. Basarnas continues to coordinate with the fishermen’s association in Pangkep Regency to provide information if signs of the victims’ whereabouts are found in the future.