JAKARTA, Indonesia: Indonesian officials were offering little hope for 26 people who remain missing after a boat with 43 people on board capsized off Sulawesi island late on May 29.
Local media reported that the motorized boat, which was traveling from Paotere port in Makassar, capital of South Sulawesi province, was reported missing the next day when it failed to arrive at its destination.
South Sulawesi search and rescue agency chief Djunaidi said that passengers who were rescued were picked up by small boats and taken to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan and Jeneponto in South Sulawesi.
The accident was likely caused by the boat running out of fuel during bad weather, officials said.
“We have confirmation that the boat had sunk in the search area. We received information saying that 17 people were found and saved by passing tugboats,” Djunaidi said.
Late last week, Indonesia’s weather agency warned of waves measuring 8 feet in the Makassar strait areas.
