14-8-2023 (JAKARTA) A search and rescue mission is underway for seven individuals, including four Australian tourists, who have gone missing after their boat encountered severe weather conditions off the coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra island, officials reported on Monday (August 14).
The incident unfolded as two boats, carrying a combined total of 17 passengers, departed from Nias island with the intention of reaching the private island of Pinang on Sunday. Unfortunately, adverse weather conditions disrupted their journey.
According to Octavianto, the head of the local search and rescue agency, one of the speedboats, with 10 people aboard, managed to seek refuge on a nearby island to escape the inclement weather. However, the second boat pressed on.
Octavianto, who, like many Indonesians, uses only one name, indicated that early on Monday, the management of the resort on Pinang alerted rescuers that the second boat, carrying the group of four Australians and three Indonesians, had not arrived at its intended destination.
In response, an immediate search operation was launched. Octavianto explained that despite extensive efforts, the speedboat carrying the seven individuals has not yet been located.
“We will continue the search until tonight. If there is no result, the search and rescue team will be deployed again tomorrow at 0700 (midnight GMT),” Octavianto stated.
The second speedboat, transporting eight more Australians and two Indonesians, managed to reach Pinang late on Sunday. The search for the missing individuals involves two rescue vessels and an aircraft, with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade closely coordinating with Indonesian authorities.
A spokesperson from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade expressed their concern, saying, “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those missing during this distressing time.”
Indonesia, an archipelago nation consisting of approximately 17,000 islands, has frequently witnessed maritime accidents due to the widespread reliance on ferries and small boats for transportation, often in spite of inadequate safety standards.
One of the deadliest incidents occurred in 2018 when over 150 individuals lost their lives after a ferry sank in Lake Toba, one of the world’s deepest lakes, located on Sumatra island.
Another incident in May 2022 involved a ferry carrying over 800 passengers that ran aground in shallow waters off East Nusa Tenggara province. The ferry remained stranded for two days before being successfully dislodged, with no injuries reported.
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