Missing speedboat with Dutch tourists located in Indonesia; all but skipper safe

Indonesian rescue services have located a speedboat carrying European tourists that had been missing since Friday morning. Four Dutch nationals were aboard. They are unharmed, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported Saturday.

“Our embassy in Jakarta is in contact with local authorities, and the ministry is in contact with family. We are providing consular assistance,” a spokesperson said.

The vessel left Tanjung Unauna on Friday morning bound for Marisa in the neighboring province of Gorontalo but never arrived. A local tour guide reported the boat missing to authorities around 3:40 p.m.

Also aboard were three Germans, a French woman, a Belgian, and a Czech national. It is not known whether the other passengers are unharmed. “There is still much that is unclear,” the ministry told the ANP news agency.

According to Indonesian media, all passengers were found alive except the skipper, who is still being sought. The boat was reportedly damaged in bad weather. Twelve of the 13 people aboard managed to reach safety, apparently using a life raft. The skipper is said to have remained on the vessel.