Jakarta (VNA) – A ship with eight people on board has been missing in the waters of Indonesia's western Bengkulu province, local authority said on May 26.
Speaking to media, Muslikun Sodik, head of the Bengkulu province Search and Rescue Office, said the ship KM Althaf departed from a seaport in Bengkulu city, the capital of the province, at approximately 3:00 pm on May 24. It was headed to Enggano Island in North Bengkulu Regency.
The ship should arrive in Enggano Island at about 7:00 am on May 25. However, so far, the ship and all the people on board including the captain, two crew, and five passengers cannot be contacted.
The search and rescue operation was immediately carried out by the provincial search and rescue office, navy personnel, and other volunteers, he said.
Sodik said that the weather conditions in the area were extreme, with strong winds and huge waves, causing difficulties for the search and rescue activities./.