Five rescued days after boat sinks in Indonesia, 20 missing

Five passengers, including a seven-year-old girl, have been rescued days after a passenger boat sank in Indonesia's eastern waters on Saturday. The vessel was carrying 78 people and sank on Wednesday due to an engine failure. Twenty individuals are still missing. Authorities are continuing search and rescue operations, with engine failure cited as the suspected cause of the sinking. This incident highlights the ongoing safety concerns regarding maritime transport in Indonesia, an archipelago nation where boats are a vital mode of travel across vast distances. Frequent accidents are attributed to factors such as aging vessels and non-compliance with safety regulations, including overloading and navigating in adverse weather conditions. Local fishing boats have joined the coast guard in the extensive search efforts, which are challenged by the wide operational area. Survivors have recounted the chaos of the sinking and the fear experienced while awaiting rescue.