Miraculous Survival: 18 Rescued After Boat Capsizes Near Mentawai

Padang (Indonesia), Jul 15 (AP) Residents of the Mentawai Islands in Indonesia made a significant discovery after a speedboat carrying 18 people capsized during a storm. Fortunately, all passengers were found to be in good condition.

The ill-fated boat, on a routine two-hour journey, was traveling from Sikakap, a town in the Mentawai Islands district of West Sumatra, to the town of Tuapejat. According to Lahmudin, the head of the local Disaster Management Agency, the boat capsized on Sunday afternoon, carrying mostly local administration officials. In a testament to survival, ten passengers, including three children and a local parliament member, managed to cling to the boat's wreckage and reached the shores of Guluk Guluk beach on Monday. Another passenger was discovered near the village of Matobe, as reported by Mentawai Islands district chief, Rinto Wardana.

Seven passengers, among them the two crew members, exhibited extraordinary endurance by swimming for hours through the turbulent waters, eventually reaching the Mapinang fishing hamlet to seek assistance, Wardana stated. Their swimming prowess undoubtedly played a crucial role in their survival.

Upon rescue, all the survivors were transported to Tuapejat, where anxious family members awaited any news. An investigation into the incident is already underway. Survivors shared that the boat was hit by towering waves during a sudden storm, according to Lahmudin.

Local rescue efforts were commendable, with a rescue ship and an inflatable boat deployed, aided by local fishermen and residents. Rudi, the chief of the local search and rescue agency, noted that despite the challenging conditions, the search operations continued overnight amidst rough seas and rainfall.

Appreciating the swift and coordinated response by the joint search and rescue team and the local community, Wardana promised a thorough evaluation of shipping safety protocols, particularly during severe weather conditions. He also advised boat operators to heed weather forecasts diligently.

Indonesia, an archipelago consisting of more than 17,000 islands, sees ferry travel as a common transportation mode. However, accidents are all too frequent, and poor safety enforcement is often cited as a major factor.

In a related incident, earlier this month, a ferry sank near the popular resort island of Bali, resulting in at least 18 fatalities and leaving 17 others missing. This prompted a two-week search operation involving over 1,000 rescuers, three navy ships, 15 boats, a helicopter, and divers. This extensive search officially concluded on Monday. (AP) SKS SCY SCY

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