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Seven missing, including four Australians, after contact lost with speed boat in Aceh
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A lighthouse is seen on Rangit Island on Banyak Islands, Aceh Singkil, Aceh, in this undated stock photo.
(Shutterstock/Usman Ridwansyah)
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search operation is ongoing for seven people, including four Australian tourists, who have been missing since contact was lost with a speed boat in the waters off Banyak Islands in Aceh Singkil, Aceh, on Sunday afternoon.
Nias Search and Rescue Agency chief Octavianto said that the speed boat, carrying two crew members, a resort manager and the four tourists, left North Nias on the coast of North Sumatra on Sunday at around 3 p.m. for Pinang Resort on the Banyak Islands.
He said the boat lost contact in waters around Sarang Alu Island and Banyak Islands.
Search efforts, which have been hampered by bad weather, have yet to locate the boat or those on board.
“Monday’s search was focused on waters around Banyak Islands, but we have yet to find any sign of them,” Octavianto told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
He said the boat was one of two wooden boats departing from North Nias. Due to bad weather, one of the boats carrying eight Australians and five Indonesian tourists decided to stop at Sarang Alu Island, while the other one pushed on.
By 10:18 p.m. on Sunday, the boat carrying 13 tourists had made it to Pinang Resort.
The seven missing people have been identified as crew members Fivan and Kibal, Indonesian national Yunardi Ardi, and Australian nationals Elliot Foote, Steph Weisse, Will Teagle and Jordan Short .
The search is continuing. (dre)
