An Indonesian search and rescue operation located a speedboat that went missing in Tomini Bay, Sulawesi, with all 13 people on board found alive, according to the national search and rescue agency (Basarnas) on Saturday. The vessel, carrying 11 tourists from Europe and two Indonesian crew, had disappeared on Friday morning while en route from Tojo Una‑Una to Marisa Port.

The alarm was raised when the boat failed to arrive by mid‑afternoon. Basarnas launched an immediate search, deploying dozens of personnel, a thermal‑imaging drone, and diving equipment across an area of nearly 300 square nautical miles. Efforts were temporarily hampered overnight by waves reaching 2.5 metres and strong winds, but resumed at first light.

On Saturday, Basarnas confirmed the boat had been located. All 13 occupants—including nationals of the Czech Republic, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and France—had abandoned the damaged vessel and taken shelter on a local raft. They were evacuated to Tojo Una‑Una for medical checks; no injuries were immediately reported. The boat’s captain and crew member were also safe.

The incident highlights the hazards of sea travel in the world’s largest archipelago, where inter‑island boats are a lifeline but accidents recur. In the same month, a passenger ferry sank off Selayar Island, Indonesia, killing at least four people and leaving 14 missing, while in Bangladesh a tourist went missing after a riverboat capsized in the Sangu River. Regional authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of the Tomini Bay incident.