A passenger boat sank in eastern Indonesia waters, resulting in multiple casualties and ongoing search efforts.The KM Nurul Salsa, which was carrying 78 passengers and crew, experienced engine failure and sank approximately 43 nautical miles from the port in the Selayar Islands, South Sulawesi Province.Rescuers discovered five survivors, including a seven-year-old girl, clinging to a fish trap belonging to local fisherman Muhammad Arif Anwar.The survivors were evacuated by a fishing boat and later transported to Benteng town for health checks.At least one fatality has been confirmed, though the exact number of missing persons remains unclear.Indonesian authorities have noted that lax safety standards and overcrowding in passenger boats frequently lead to such incidents.

The incident highlights broader concerns about maritime safety in Indonesia, an archipelago with over 17,000 islands where inadequate regulation contributes to recurring tragedies.