Five KM Nurul Salsa Victims Rescued After Four Days Adrift in Selayar Waters

On the fourth day of the search, Saturday (18/7/2026), a joint SAR team successfully located five survivors of the sunken KM Nurul Salsa in the midst of treacherous waves. The five victims, who survived in an extraordinary manner, were found by KMN Sinar Matoanging 04 in the waters around Matallang Island, Selayar Islands Regency, South Sulawesi. They were discovered floating and clinging tightly to a rompong, a fish aggregating structure owned by local fishermen. The facility proved to be their sole means of salvation for days as they were battered by strong sea currents. The Head of the Makassar Class A Search and Rescue Office, Muhammad Arif Anwar, stated that the key factor in the victims’ survival was their ability to utilise the fishermen’s rompong as a natural floatation device. ‘Alhamdulillah, we received news that five victims were found alive by KMN Sinar Matoanging 04. Currently, KN SAR Kamajaya is moving to the location to intercept and evacuate them,’ said Arif. He added that the physical and mental endurance of the victims during four days at sea provides a valuable lesson for maritime safety. ‘They survived by holding tightly onto the rompong. This is proof that the will to live and the availability of safety aids at sea are decisive factors,’ he added. The report of the discovery first came from the Chairman of the Indonesian Fishermen’s Association (HNSI), who is also Deputy Chairman of Commission V of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Iwan Darmawan Aras. The rapid information from the fishermen’s network significantly aided the effectiveness of the search, which had previously relied solely on broad sweeps by the SAR team. The Makassar Basarnas confirmed that KN SAR Kamajaya will immediately evacuate the five victims for emergency medical treatment. Upon reaching land, they are scheduled to undergo intensive health checks before being reunited with their families. ‘We hope there are still other victims who can be found alive,’ Arif concluded. As of now, the search operation for other victims is continuing, deploying all combined SAR resources. The team is conducting sea sweeps and monitoring areas based on current analysis and the latest weather conditions to reach any victims who may still be surviving in the waters.