SAR Team Looking for 3 Teenagers who Drowned while Fishing in Kolaka Waters

The Kolaka SAR Post Rescue Team is preparing to search for three teenagers who were swept away in Kolaka waters, Southeast Sulawesi, Tuesday (13/1/2026). ANTARA/HO-Basarnas Kendari

KENDARI - The Kolaka SAR Post Rescue Team is searching for three teenagers who were swept away while fishing around the waters of Onehe Village, Kolaka Regency, Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra).

Head of Kendari Basarnas Amiruddin said the three teenagers were named Sofyan (12), Damar (12), and Salwa (11). They were first reported by the family, at 21.10 Wita.

"We received information that there was a boat accident against a sampan with three children who were drifting while fishing around the waters of Onehe Village, Kolaka," said Amiruddin as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, January 13.

He said based on the information, his party then sent a Kolaka SAR Post Rescue Team to the scene to provide SAR assistance, at 21.30 Wita.

"With the distance of the location from the Kolaka SAR Post about 43 kilometers," he said.

Amiruddin revealed that when he arrived at the scene, his party immediately coordinated with several elements involved in the search operation.

"There are staff from the Kendari KPP Ops, Kolaka SAR Post, the surrounding community, and the victim's family, we are looking for," said Amiruddin.

The ship accident started when the three teenagers went fishing using a sampan around the waters of Onehe Village, at 13.00 Wita.

At 15.00 Wita, the three victims were seen in a position that had moved away from the beach.

"However, until the afternoon they had not returned, so a search was carried out by the local community and the family, but they were not found," said Amiruddin.