Missing Speedboat in Gorontalo Found, 11 Foreign Nationals Safe

A joint search and rescue team has found the speedboat carrying 11 foreign tourists that lost contact while sailing in Tomini Bay, Gorontalo Province.

“That information is correct. We received it from Tojo Una-Una Regency after we deployed two speedboats to the location where the vessel was suspected of losing contact,” said the Head of Basarnas Gorontalo, Heriyanto, to reporters on Saturday (25/7).

According to Heriyanto, all the passengers who were found were in safe condition.

“Thank God, all 11 foreign national victims have been evacuated in safe condition, and they are currently in Tojo Una-Una,” he said.

Heriyanto explained that the speedboat had departed from Tojo Una-Una Regency, Central Sulawesi, heading for Marisa Port in Pohuwato Regency, Gorontalo Province, on Friday (24/7).

However, during the journey it was struck by bad weather, causing the vessel to break apart.

“Based on the information we received, bad weather caused the boat carrying the tourists to break apart, and the victims saved themselves using a raft found near the location of the accident,” he said.

For the time being, Heriyanto said, all the foreign tourists are in Tojo Una-Una Regency undergoing health checks and further data collection.

“They are from the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany and France. All the victims have been registered and confirmed safe,” he said.