Survivors Found After Four Days at Sea; Search Continues for 20

WHO:

AP - The two additional survivors found are a 46-year-old woman and her 24-year-old son.

Newser - Five survivors were found after a passenger boat sank.

ABC News World - The survivors include a 7-year-old girl.

WHAT:

AP - Rescuers are now searching for 18 other people still missing after the boat sinking.

Newser - Five people were rescued four days after their boat sank.

ABC News World - Rescuers are searching for 20 other people still missing after the sinking.

WHERE:

AP - The mother and son were found stranded on Balaloho Island, one of the small inhabited islands in Selayar.

Newser - The incident occurred off South Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Newser - The survivors were found near Matallang Island.

WHEN:

Newser - The passenger boat sank on Wednesday.

Newser - The survivors were found on Saturday, four days after the sinking.

HOW:

AP - More than 200 rescuers, including Indonesian troops, police, fishermen, and residents, are involved in the search efforts. Rescue teams faced harsh weather conditions, including waves as high as 2–3 meters and strong winds.

Newser - The survivors managed to stay afloat by clinging to a fishing trap and debris from their boat.

(UPDATED July 19, 2026 19:18 UTC)

Rescuers have successfully located two additional survivors, a 46-year-old woman and her 24-year-old son, stranded on Balaloho Island in Selayar. The search continues for 18 other individuals still missing following the tragic boat sinking, with over 200 rescuers, including Indonesian troops and local fishermen, working tirelessly despite challenging weather conditions. These teams are battling waves reaching heights of 2 to 3 meters and strong winds as they conduct their search efforts.

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(UPDATED July 19, 2026 16:14 UTC)

Five survivors, including a 7-year-old girl, were found after their passenger boat sank off the coast of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Rescuers are still searching for 20 other people who remain missing since the boat went down on Wednesday, with the survivors being discovered near Matallang Island four days later. The survivors managed to stay afloat by clinging to a fishing trap and debris from their vessel.