27 missing after passenger boat sinks in rough seas in eastern Indonesia

Search and rescue teams were deployed Monday after a passenger boat sank in rough seas off eastern Indonesia, leaving 27 people missing, according to local authorities.

Muhammad Rizal, head of the search and rescue office in Palu, Central Sulawesi, said the vessel, identified as Nazila 05, was travelling from Taliabu Island in North Maluku province to the coastal village of Kema when it encountered severe weather late Sunday.

According to Rizal, the boat’s captain contacted the owner early Monday to report that the bow had broken after being struck by high waves. Roughly 30 minutes later, the captain reported the vessel had sunk. The incident was then reported to authorities by the owner Monday morning.

It was not immediately clear whether any passengers or crew had been rescued. Search operations were ongoing Monday, with teams working to locate those missing.

Authorities have not released further details on the number of survivors or the cause of the structural failure, and the investigation remains ongoing.