Indonesian rescuers search for missing boat with Czech tourist aboard

Indonesian rescuers are racing against time to find a missing motorboat that disappeared in the Gulf of Tomini, off the coast of Sulawesi island. The vessel was carrying 11 European tourists, including one Czech citizen, along with two Indonesian crew members.

The boat set off Friday morning from Tanjung Una-Una in Central Sulawesi province, heading for the port of Marisa in neighboring Gorontalo province. However, it never arrived at its scheduled destination. Local guide reported the missing boat Friday afternoon, triggering an immediate search operation.

"Concerns arose when their motorboat did not arrive by afternoon," said Herijanto, head of the local search and rescue agency. "We immediately launched a search operation overnight, but we have not found any traces so far." The nationalities on board included one Czech, one Belgian, five Dutch, three Germans, and one French national.

Dozens of search and rescue teams are now covering an area of approximately 300 square nautical miles in and around the Gulf of Tomini. They are utilizing thermal imaging drones and diving equipment. Despite clear skies predicted by the Indonesian meteorological agency, searchers faced difficult conditions on Saturday, including strong winds and waves up to 2.5 meters high.

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Concerns arose when their motorboat did not arrive by afternoon... We immediately launched a search operation overnight, but we have not found any traces so far.