Search for Sunken KLM Nurul Salsa Expanded in Selayar Waters
The search for KLM Nurul Salsa and its passengers, believed to have sunk in waters west of Polassi Island, Selayar Islands Regency, on Wednesday (15 July) at midday, has continued into today.
Head of the Class A Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas) in Makassar, Muhammad Arif Anwar, said the joint SAR team was deployed as soon as the report was received.
The search operation involves the Selayar SAR Post Rescue Team, the Basarnas Makassar Rescue Team, the Indonesian Navy (including KRI Marlin-877, still en route from Makassar), the crew of KM Harapan Kita, the Selayar Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Harbourmaster, the Selayar SROP, the Marine Police, and fishing vessels.
KM Harapan Jaya, a Surabaya-flagged vessel that happened to be near the location, was also deployed to assist the search. The large vessel is considered capable of breaking through high waves and could even potentially tow KLM Nurul Salsa should it be found.
The latest information indicated that the search team briefly spotted a light believed to be from a vessel west of Polassi Island and moved to investigate. Contact was then lost due to the poor telecommunications network in the area.
The search is currently focused around the incident site and areas determined by Search and Rescue Planning (Sarmap) calculations.
“We ask for your prayers, and we hope the joint SAR team can quickly find the victims still missing,” Arif concluded.
The latest data gathered by the joint SAR team records the total number of people on board at 74, far exceeding the initial figure reported.
Of that number, 41 people were evacuated by KM Harapan Kita in the early hours of Thursday at around 04.00 Central Indonesian Time, whilst six others were rescued by fishing boats near the location and evacuated to Polassi Island.
According to the manifest obtained from the ticket agent at Jampea Port, KLM Nurul Salsa was not only carrying passengers. The wooden vessel carried a total cargo of around 17 tonnes of agricultural produce, including 10 tonnes of rice, 2 tonnes of copra, and 5 tonnes of charcoal. In addition, there were four head of cattle and six motorcycles on board.
The vessel departed from Jampea Island for Benteng Selayar Port on Wednesday (15 July) at around 05.00 Central Indonesian Time. However, midway through the journey, in the waters between Nambolaki and Bahuluang — known as the meeting point of western and eastern currents — the ship’s engine experienced a malfunction and lost power completely.
Water began entering the engine room, although the crew attempted to deal with it using an alkon pump.
Another maritime disaster has occurred in the waters of South Sulawesi. KLM Nurul Salsa, which was carrying dozens of passengers along with tonnes of cargo, was reported to have sunk.