Tue Jul 15 03:16:33 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

A search and rescue operation is underway in Indonesia’s Mentawai Islands after a boat carrying 18 people capsized due to bad weather. Seven people have been rescued, but 11 remain missing. The boat was traveling between two towns in the Mentawai Islands, and 10 of the passengers were local government officials. Marine accidents are common in Indonesia due to lax safety standards and inclement weather.

**News Article:**

**Search Intensifies for 11 Missing After Boat Capsizes Off Indonesian Islands**

**MENTAWAI ISLANDS, INDONESIA** – Rescuers are racing against time to find 11 people missing after a boat capsized in rough weather off the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra province. The incident occurred on Monday around 11 a.m. local time as the vessel sailed between Sikakap and Tuapejat, two towns within the Mentawai Islands archipelago.

According to the local search and rescue agency, seven of the 18 people aboard have been rescued so far. Ten of the passengers were identified as local government officials. Dozens of rescuers and two boats are currently scouring the area around the estimated accident site.

“Our focus is on combing the area around the estimated accident site to find all victims,” said Rudi, head of the Mentawai search and rescue agency.

While the exact cause of the capsizing remains under investigation, authorities suspect bad weather played a significant role. Marine accidents are a unfortunately common occurrence in Indonesia, a vast archipelago of over 17,000 islands, often attributed to lax safety regulations and challenging weather conditions.

This incident follows a series of similar tragedies in recent months. In July, a ferry sank off Bali, claiming at least 18 lives. In March, another boat capsized near Bali, resulting in the death of an Australian woman. One of the deadliest accidents in recent memory occurred in 2018 when a ferry sank on Sumatra island, killing more than 150 people.

The search and rescue operation continues as authorities work to locate the missing individuals.

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