Search And Rescue Operation For Ambulance Ships In Makassar Strait Stopped, 3 People Still Missing

SAR operations to search for an ambulance that was declared missing along with three passengers in Makassar Waters, Pangkep Regency, South Sulawesi. BETWEEN ANTARA/HO-Documentation of Makassar Basarnas.

SAR operations to search for an ambulance that lost contact in the waters of the Makassar Strait were finally stopped after seven days of searching in local waters, Pangkajene Islands (Pangkep) Regency, South Sulawesi, because there were no signs of the ship's whereabouts.

"The search for an ambulance that lost contact with three passengers was declared closed," said Head of the Makassar Class A National Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas) Muhammad Arif Anwar, Tuesday, October 21, as reported by ANTARA.

The termination of the SAR operation against the ambulance ship was carried out by the Joint SAR team during the seven-day search using KN SAR Kamajaya carrying the crew, the rescue team with the potential for SAR, but to no avail.

"The search is still being carried out until this evening on the seventh day. But there are still no signs of the presence of the ship and its passengers," said Arif.

He explained that basically according to Basarnas Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), they had been searching for seven consecutive days, so that based on the consideration that there were no signs of the presence of the ship or victim, the search operation was finally stopped.

"Based on the search results carried out for seven days in the Makassar Strait, Pangkep Regency passed the route predicted by the Map SAR application and the path passed by the ambulance ship. However, the results were nil," he said.

However, if later there is information regarding the whereabouts of the ship or victim, said Arif, then the search operation will be reopened for evacuation.

The closure of the SAR Operation was marked by the signing of the minutes with the victim's family on Bumungan Island. Furthermore, KN SAR Kamajaya will depart from the local island to return to Soekarno Hatta Port, Makassar.

Previously, the Sea Ambulance with the route from Bumungan Island to Dewakkang Island departed since Monday, October 13, 2025, with the trip supposed to take about eight hours.

However, as of Tuesday, October 14, the ambulance ship had not arrived at the destination of Dewakkang Island, Pangkep. Later the ambulance ship was declared lost contact in the Makassar Strait, Pangkep Regency, South Sulawesi.

The ambulance ship has been completed and delivered to Dewakkang Island with three passengers, respectively Muhammad Tahir (65), Najamuddin (55) and Hasri (60).

The three victims are known to live on Bumungan Island, Pangkep.