JAKARTA, May 26 (Xinhua) -- A small ship with 8 people on board has been missing in the waters of Indonesia's western Bengkulu province, a search and rescue operation is underway, a top rescuer said on Monday.
The ship KM Althaf departed from a seaport in Bengkulu City, the capital of the province, on Saturday at approximately 3:00 p.m. Jakarta time. It was headed to Enggano Island in North Bengkulu Regency, according to Muslikun Sodik, head of the Bengkulu Province Search and Rescue Office.
"The ship should arrive in Enggano Island at about 7:00 a.m. Sunday. However, until now, the ship has not arrived at its destination. The ship and all the people on board cannot be contacted. The occupants of the ship were the captain, two crew, and five passengers," he told Xinhua.
The search and rescue operation was immediately carried out by the provincial search and rescue office, navy personnel, and other volunteers, he said.
Sodik disclosed that the weather conditions in the area were extreme, with strong winds and huge waves. ■
