Jakarta: A search operation is underway for 25 persons who remained untraceable after a ship with about 42 people on board capsized in the waters off Indonesia’s South Sulawesi province.
According to reports, the ship suffered an engine failure when it was hit by huge waves in the strait after departing from the Paotere Harbor in Makassar, the capital of the province. The ship was heading to a seaport in Pangkajene district.
After receiving the information, a search and rescue mission was launched.
“About 45 rescuers and a ship have already been on the spot near a small island,” the official said, adding that a plane or chopper will be dispatched to join the search.
So far, 17 people on board the ill-fated vessel have been rescued.