Rescuers in Indonesia are currently searching for 11 individuals who remain missing after a boat overturned in turbulent weather near the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra province. The local search and rescue agency confirmed this on Tuesday.
The incident occurred on Monday morning, and so far, eight people have been successfully rescued.
According to a statement from the rescue agency, the boat had 18 people on board, including ten local government workers, when it departed from Sikakap for a nearby town within the Mentawai Islands.
On Tuesday, two boats and dozens of rescuers were deployed to locate the missing individuals.
Boats and ferries are a common mode of transportation in Indonesia, an archipelago comprising over 17,000 islands. Accidents are relatively frequent due to factors such as inclement weather and lax safety standards, which often lead to vessels being overloaded.
Earlier this month, a ferry sank near the island of Bali. Out of the 65 people on board, 18 died, 30 survived, and 17 are still missing.
