The 'KMP Bandeng' which had sailed from Tobelo, North Maluku island, bound for Bitung, eastern North Sulawesi, in the evening of Aug 14, 2018, with 24 passengers, 18 crew members and 16 vehicles on board, got in distress in the morning of Aug 15
The 'KMP Bandeng' which had sailed from Tobelo, North Maluku island, bound for Bitung, eastern North Sulawesi, in the evening of Aug 14, 2018, with 24 passengers, 18 crew members and 16 vehicles on board, got in distress in the morning of Aug 15. The ferry contacted authorities and asked permission to turn back because of deteriorating weather. Several hours later the contact with ship got lost. The ship was disabled after having suffered engine failure and sank being caught in a heavy swell in the afternoon hours in the waters of North Loloda Island, next to West Halmahera Island. 45 people were successfully rescued by fishing boats and have now been allowed to leave Ternate Public Hospital, North Maluku. Only two people still had to be treated for mild dehydration. 19 people returned to Tobelo and were carried on with a bus, 10 people returned to Manado by plane, and 14 more people returned directly to their homes in Ternate.
