The search and rescue organization for Indonesia reported that there were 40 individuals on board.


Rescue vessels near the scene of an Indonesian boat capsize in the Java Sea. Marine mishaps are common in Southeast Asia's 17,000-island archipelago, where residents rely on ferries and tiny boats to get around despite lax safety regulations. Only representational uses made of file photo. | Specially Photo credit to: AP

On Monday, July 24, 2023, a ferry capsized off the shore of Sulawesi island in Indonesia, killing at least 15 people and leaving another 19 people missing, according to search and rescue officials.

Just after midnight local time (1700 GMT on Sunday), the boat capsized with 40 passengers aboard, according to a statement from the local branch of Indonesia's search and rescue organization.

According to the report, six passengers were saved and sent to a hospital for treatment while the cause of the sinking was being looked into.

According to Muhamad Arafah, director of the regional search and rescue organization in Kendari city, Southeast Sulawesi, "there are currently 19 people who are still being searched for."

"Two teams will search, and they will work together. The initial squad will scuba dive all around the accident scene. A rubberboat and longboat will be used by the second team to conduct a sweep above the water's surface surrounding the scene of the accident.

The real number of passengers on a boat in Indonesia frequently differs from the manifest.

recurring maritime catastrophes

Marine mishaps are common in Southeast Asia's 17,000-island archipelago, where residents rely on ferries and tiny boats to get around despite lax safety regulations.

On Sumatra island, a ferry capsized in one of the deepest lakes in the world in 2018, killing over 150 passengers.

A ferry carrying more than 800 people became aground in shallow water off the coast of East Nusa Tenggara province in May of last year and was not freed for two days. In that incident, nobody was hurt.