KLM Nurul Salsa Capsizes in Selayar: 46 Passengers Aboard, 6 Rescued

A passenger boat, the KLM Nurul Salsa, carrying 46 people, sank in the waters of Selayar Islands, South Sulawesi, after its hull leaked. Six passengers were rescued by a joint search and rescue team. The incident occurred on Wednesday, July 15.

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Yes, there were 46 people on the boat, and six people were successfully evacuated.

Rescue operations were challenged by large waves and strong winds caused by the east monsoon. The head of the Selayar Islands Police's Public Relations Sub-division, Aipda Suardi Andre, confirmed that six people had been evacuated. The boat suffered engine damage and a small leak, requiring continuous operation of bilge pumps to expel water.

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Since noon, we, along with Basarnas, have been following up on the sea accident report. However, the wave conditions are very large, so we are still waiting for a larger and ready-to-use ship.

The head of the Selayar Islands Water and Air Police Unit, Ipty Amat Soedachlan, stated that the SAR team was waiting at Appatanah Port for a larger vessel from Pasimasunggu to reach the scene. The safety of rescue personnel was a primary concern due to the rough sea conditions.

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The weather conditions, influenced by the east wind, are causing quite high waves in the waters, making personnel safety a primary consideration before deployment.

Selayar Police Chief AKBP Didid Imawan emphasized that the safety of all passengers and crew was the top priority. He expressed hope for improved weather to facilitate the complete evacuation of everyone on board the KLM Nurul Salsa.

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Community safety is the top priority. We hope the weather conditions improve soon so the team can move to the location and all passengers of KLM Nurul Salsa can be evacuated safely.