2026-03-30T12:38:02Z

PALU, Indonesia (AP) — Rescue teams raced Monday to find 27 people missing after a passenger boat sank in rough seas on Monday on its way to a remote village in eastern Indonesia.

The boat, Nazila 05, which was carrying 27 passengers and crew members, departed North Maluku province’s Taliabu Island bound for Kema, a coastal village in the province just after dusk on Sunday, said Muhammad Rizal, who heads the search and rescue office in Central Sulawesi’s Palu city.

He said the incident was first reported to authorities on Monday morning by the ship’s owner, Rifani Samatia, after the Nazila 05’s captain contacted him to report that the vessel’s bow had broken after hit by high waves during rough weather. About 30 minutes later, the captain reported that the vessel had sunk.

Post expires at 8:12am on Tuesday March 31st, 2026