Indonesia Investigates KM Nurul Salsa Sinking as Search Continues

SUARA NEGERI ■ SELAYAR — Indonesian police have detained the captain and crew of the KLM Nurul Salsa for questioning as part of an investigation into the sinking of the wooden vessel off the western waters of Polassi Island in South Sulawesi, authorities said on Saturday.

The vessel sank on Wednesday afternoon, and search operations for missing passengers entered their fourth day, with several people still unaccounted for.

Pasimasunggu Police Chief First Inspector Haryanto said officers coordinated rescue efforts with local authorities and the military before securing the captain and crew for questioning.

"After the evacuation process, we brought the captain and all crew members to the Pasimasunggu Police Station for investigative purposes," Haryanto said.

Authorities have not announced the cause of the accident, and the investigation is ongoing.

The tragedy has prompted an outpouring of sympathy across the Selayar Islands. Arsyil Ihsan, a member of the Selayar Islands Regional Legislative Council, said the sinking had become "a shared tragedy" for the local community.

"This disaster has brought grief not only to the victims' families but also to the entire Selayar community," Arsyil said, on Saturday (18/7).

He expressed hope that search teams would locate the remaining missing passengers and urged residents to continue supporting the victims' families during the rescue operation.

Search and rescue teams remain deployed around the accident site as authorities continue efforts to locate those still missing.