KM Nurul Salsa Update: 59 Survivors Found, 18 Still Missing After Five-Day Search
The joint SAR team recovered two further passengers of KM Nurul Salsa alive on the fifth day of the search operation, Sunday (19 July 2026). With this discovery, the total number of survivors from the vessel’s sinking has now reached 59.
Andi Sultan, Head of the Operations and Alert Section at the Basarnas Makassar office, confirmed that the two survivors were found by the crew of the fishing vessel KM Bari Baria 05 after washing ashore on Balaloho Island, Pangkajene Kepulauan Regency (Pangkep), South Sulawesi.
“Thank God, on the fifth day of the SAR operation, two more survivors were found on Balaloho Island. They are currently being evacuated aboard KRI Marlin 877 to Benteng Harbour, Selayar,” said Andi Sultan.
The two survivors were identified as Nurmiati (46), a woman, and Jasmal (24), a man. Both are residents of Tangnga Hamlet, Tanamalala Village, Pasimasunggu District, Kepulauan Selayar Regency. When found at around 13.00 Central Indonesia Time, they were clinging to a buoy whilst wearing life jackets in the waters off Sanipa Island.
According to their initial statements, five people had originally survived on the buoy after the ship sank. However, after drifting for several days, three of their companions are believed to have died.
The Chief of the Kepulauan Selayar Resort Police, AKBP Didid Imawan, said the two survivors were forced to release the bodies of their three companions into the sea after two nights together, as the remains had begun to decompose. “The identities of the three victims have not yet been confirmed and will be investigated further once the two survivors are fit enough to be questioned,” he explained.
As of the fifth day of the search, of the 78 passengers aboard KM Nurul Salsa, the recorded figures are: 59 survivors and 18 still missing, with one fatality recovered.
Today’s SAR operation covered an area of 1,305 square nautical miles (NM) divided into four sectors. The search involved various units, including KN SAR Puntadewa 250, KN SAR Pacitan 102, KRI Marlin 877 and KRI Hiu 634, along with support from the TNI, Polri, BPBD, the Harbormaster’s office and local fishing vessels.
The commanding officer of KRI Marlin-877, Lieutenant Commander Rahmad Kurniawan Sembiring, added that the two newly found survivors received first aid aboard the warship before being taken to Jampea Island for further treatment.
KM Nurul Salsa was earlier reported to have sunk on Wednesday (15 July) at around 05.00 Central Indonesia Time after suffering engine trouble whilst sailing from Jampea Island to Benteng Harbour, Selayar. The ill-fated vessel went down in the waters west of Polassi Island, approximately 43 NM from Benteng Harbour.