Rescuers found five survivors of a sunk passenger boat in Indonesian waters on Saturday, according to ABC News.
The rescued include a seven-year-old girl. Some 49 survivors have been located in total since the boat sank last week, though another 20 people reportedly remain missing.
The passenger boat, KM Nurul Salsa, was carrying 78 passengers and crew when it sank on Wednesday, approximately 80 km. from its departure port on Jampea Island in South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, after the ship experienced engine failure.
Weather challenges search as it continues; 20 people remain missing
Muhammad Arif Anwar, head of the Makassar Search and Rescue Office, said that the five survivors were found clinging to a fish trap left in the sea by a local fisherman. They were evacuated by a passing fishing boat before being transferred to a search-and-rescue boat, according to ABC.
"They were taken to the port in Benteng town for health checkups and information gathering," Anwar said in a statement.
“The challenge is the weather, with waves 2 meters to 2.5 meters high at the search site. The winds are also strong. That’s the main challenge,” Anwar said.
The Indonesian National Armed Forces, the country's national police, and private citizens are continuing the search operation.