A tragic incident unfolded off Indonesia’s Sulawesi island when an overloaded passenger boat capsized, resulting in the loss of 15 lives. Rescuers reported that 33 other passengers managed to survive the harrowing ordeal.
The ill-fated vessel was en route from Lanto village in Buton Central regency, Southeast Sulawesi province, to the nearby Lagili village when it capsized shortly after midnight on Monday. Local search and rescue agency head, Muhammad Arafah, confirmed the distressing news.
The wooden boat, designed to accommodate 20 individuals, was carrying more passengers than its capacity, leading to the tragic accident. Upon initial efforts, the search and rescue team discovered 15 bodies and successfully rescued six survivors. The search continued to locate the remaining passengers, but was ultimately called off after authorities confirmed that everyone on board had been accounted for.
Muhammad Arafah stated that there were 27 people who survived the accident but had not been previously reported as they immediately returned home after the incident.
As the search operation took place, three inflatable boats, two fishing boats, and six divers were deployed to assist in rescue efforts.
The incident occurred amid celebrations for the regency’s ninth anniversary, with thousands of residents traveling to their respective villages. Many relied on fishing or passenger boats for transportation, underscoring the importance of safe and regulated maritime practices.
Indonesia, with its vast archipelago of over 17,000 islands, heavily relies on ferries and boats for transportation. Unfortunately, the country’s lax safety standards and issues with overcrowding have led to frequent accidents.
In 2018, another tragic incident saw an overcrowded ferry sink in North Sumatra province, claiming 167 lives out of approximately 200 passengers on board.
The country witnessed one of its worst recorded disasters in February 1999 when an overcrowded passenger ship sank with 332 people aboard. Tragically, only 20 individuals survived that devastating event.