Search for Sunken KLM Nurul Salsa Expanded in Selayar Waters

The search for the KLM Nurul Salsa and its passengers, which sank in the waters west of Polassi Island, Selayar Regency, has been extended into today. The Head of the Makassar Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas), Muhammad Arif Anwar, stated that a joint SAR team was deployed immediately upon receiving the report. The search operation involves the Selayar SAR Post Rescue Team, the Makassar Basarnas Office, the Indonesian Navy including the KRI Marlin-877, the crew of the KM Harapan Kita, the Selayar Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the harbour master, and local fishing boats. The KM Harapan Jaya, a large Surabaya-flagged vessel that happened to be in the vicinity, was also deployed to assist. Its size allows it to withstand high waves and potentially tow the KLM Nurul Salsa if it is found. The search team reportedly spotted a light believed to be from the vessel west of Polassi Island and moved to investigate, but communication was subsequently lost due to poor telecommunications coverage in the area. The search is currently focused around the incident site and areas determined by Search and Rescue Planning calculations. The latest data compiled by the joint SAR team indicates that a total of 74 people were on board the vessel, far exceeding initial reports. Of these, 41 people were evacuated by the KM Harapan Kita in the early hours of Thursday, while 6 others were rescued by local fishing boats and taken to Polassi Island. The vessel had departed from Jampea Island bound for Benteng Port in Selayar on Wednesday afternoon. According to the manifest obtained from the ticket agent at Jampea Port, the wooden vessel was carrying approximately 17 tonnes of mixed cargo, including 10 tonnes of rice, 2 tonnes of copra, and 5 tonnes of charcoal, as well as four cows and six motorcycles.