MV Sinar Bangun sank on 18 June 2018 in Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia, during its trip from Simanindo Harbour in Samosir Island to Tiga Ras Harbour in Simalungun Regency. The ferry was carrying 188 passengers and crew. After the sinking, authorities immediately deployed search and rescue personnel to the area. Twenty-one survivors were rescued, three bodies were found and 164 people were listed as missing and presumed dead. The Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee concluded that the sinking was caused by overloading. The crews' decision to load the ferry to four times its capacity, combined with improper loading of passengers and cargo, caused the ferry to be severely unstable. High waves in the area then caused the critically unstable ferry to capsize. As escape routes were blocked by vehicles, many passengers were unable to escape and were thus trapped inside the ferry.
Sinking MV Sinar Bangun was travelling from Simanindo Harbour in Samosir Regency on the north of Samosir Island to Tiga Ras Harbour in Simalungun Regency. Officials stated that many of the passengers were tourists who had traveled with families to Lake Toba, Indonesia's largest super-volcano lake. It was the holiday season in Indonesia, and the ferry was packed with passengers. Authorities stated that the ferry sank at around 17:00–17:30 local time. The ferry was reportedly carrying more than four times the rated capacity of 43 passengers and was equipped with only 45 life jackets. Survivors stated that the winds were blowing hard and the waves were rough, with heavy rain. Another survivor stated that the steering wheel snapped during the disaster. The ferry swayed once and immediately capsized to starboard. The sinking happened just 22 minutes after it had left the harbour. It happened so quickly that not a single passenger managed to wear life jackets. Passengers who were located on the top of the ferry immediately jumped onto the water. Survivors recalled that passengers were screaming and were fighting to get out of the ferry as quickly as possible, with multiple people crushed or trampled during the disaster. A video taken during the disaster was uploaded to social media by a passenger of the ferry. The video shows that the ferry capsized entirely, and reveals that many passengers initially had survived the sinking. At least 50 to 60 survivors are seen in the video clinging onto the hull, while others are swept away; screaming and crying can be heard. The video also shows that the passengers did not use life jackets or any other life-saving equipment. Another video taken by a passenger of a passing ferry shows that MV Sinar Bangun had fully submerged and that the number of survivors had decreased significantly; fewer than 30 survivors can be seen, and no survivors are seen clinging to the hull. On its final report, it was revealed that those who were seen clinging onto the hull were later struck by another massive wave, drowning dozens of people. Meanwhile, some of those who were seen floating around the hull later drowned due to exhaustion. If the missing are confirmed dead, this will be the deadliest maritime disaster in Indonesia since the sinking of MV Teratai Prima in 2009, in which more than 300 perished.
Passengers and crew As there was no passenger manifest, it is not clear how many people were actually on board. Initially, around 80 to 100 were thought to be aboard the ferry. The number was later revised to 70. However, as authorities asked the public to report any missing relatives suspected to be passengers of the ferry, the number rose to 94. The number continued to rise and as of 19 June 2018, 145 people were reported missing. The names of 41 people were publicly posted at Simanindo Harbour, while the other 104 names were posted at Tiga Ras Harbour. Officials then confirmed that 128 people and 50 vehicles were aboard the ferry, and added that the data may change. Meanwhile, survivors claimed that around 200 people and 100 motorbikes were on board. On 20 June 2018, the National Search and Rescue Agency confirmed that a total of 166 people were reported missing. Later in the afternoon, the number of people reported as missing reached 192. On 26 June, officials finally finalized the total number of passengers, crew, and vehicles on board MV Sinar Bangun. The official list stated that there were 188 people on board the ferry, with 164 listed as missing. Among the missing were 18 members of a single family.
Search and rescue
18 June The first vessel that managed to reach the site of the disaster was the MV Sumut II RORO vessel. It managed to rescue and evacuate 3 people from the site. Fifteen minutes later, MV Sumut I and MV Sinta Dame II arrived at the site. MV Sumut I rescued 14 survivors and the latter managed to evacuate 1 survivor and 1 dead body. At 17:40 local time, the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency was informed about the disaster. A joint search and rescue team was assembled and deployed in the area, consisting of the National Search and Rescue Agency, the National Armed Forces, regional and local government officials, the Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics, and the regional Disaster Management Board. The site of the sinking is two nautical miles (3.7 km; 2.3 mi) from the harbour. Eighteen people were found to have survived the sinking. The first victim of the disaster was identified as Tri Suci Wulandari, a student from Aceh Tamiang, Aceh. Helicopters and ferries were deployed by authorities. The survivors were transported to Simarmata Community Health Center, Hadrinus Sinaga Regional Hospital, and Dolok Padarmean Community Health Center.
19 June Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator divided the joint search and rescue team into 2 groups. Officials stated that 350 personnel were deployed to assist the search and rescue operation. The rescue operation was hampered by bad weather and a lack of equipment. Personnel from Jakarta were called. Personal belongings were retrieved from the water; however, neither victims nor survivors were found. The search and rescue operation was called off. In the late evening of 19 June, a C-130 Hercules carrying multiple personnel and advanced equipment arrived at Silangit Airport.
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