One dead, 24 missing after boat sinks in Indonesia: rescuers
A passenger boat sank off the coast of Indonesia due to engine failure, resulting in at least one death and 24 people missing. Rescue operations are ongoing, though the incident highlights recurring issues with maritime safety standards in the region.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the persistent danger of lax safety regulations in Southeast Asian maritime transport.
A passenger boat sank off an Indonesian island, killing at least one person and leaving 24 others missing, the local search and rescue agency said on Thursday (July 16, 2026).
An engine failure caused the boat to sink as it sailed near Selayar, a small island south of the larger Sulawesi, said the head of the local search and rescue agency, Muhammad Arif Anwar.
The crew was unable to repair the engine, prompting the skipper to call local authorities requesting evacuation, he told AFP .
The boat was already partially sunken when rescuers reached it on Thursday, according to Mr. Arif.
Forty-nine people were rescued, one woman was found dead, and "24 people are still being searched for", said Mr. Arif.
The vessel's manifest listed 50 people on board, but further verification revealed there were in fact 74, he added.
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