The households of Elliot Foote, Steph Weisse, Will Teagle and Jordan Short put out a joint assertion late on Monday confirming their disappearance.
“Our hearts are aching at the thought that Elliot, Steph, Will and Jordan are missing at sea,” they mentioned, in an announcement launched by means of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
“We continue to pray and hold out hope they will be found.
“We’d wish to thank the Indonesian authorities and the Australian authorities for his or her ongoing help whereas search and rescue efforts proceed.”
Three local crew members were reportedly also aboard.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson confirmed a search and rescue operation was under way.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is offering consular help to the households of 4 Australians onboard and is working intently with Indonesian authorities to assist search and rescue efforts,” a spokesperson said.
“Our ideas are with the household and mates of these lacking throughout this distressing time.”
Teagle’s sister, Amy, said a group of 12 was on two wooden longboats heading from Nias island, about 120 kilometres from the North Sumatra coast, to the Banyak Islands, in Aceh.
Nias and the Banyak Islands are more than 50 kilometres apart at the closest point.
One of the boats reached the destination but the other hasn’t.
Teagle’s aunt Leonie Hull also appealed on social media for help saying she was writing on behalf of his father, David.
“My son William and three Australian mates have gone lacking on a ship switch from Padang to Nias, Indonesia. Last sighting was 6pm Indo time final night time in poor climate,” the post said.
Basarnas, the National Search and Rescue Agency in Indonesia, said the boat had gone missing about 6pm on Sunday near an island in the Banyaks called Sarang Alu.
“Our workforce has arrived at Sarang Alu Island right this moment to look the world. It is the final spot earlier than each boats separated,” said Octavianto, the Basarnas chief in Nias, told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“The waves are three to 4 metres excessive. It is raining closely and it is darkish.
“We can only use smaller boats with good aerodynamics due to the weather.
“We are looking out inside 40 nautical miles of Sarang Alu Island.
“The weather was bad yesterday afternoon until today , very windy, and raining. Actually in the past one month the weather in Nias has been not so good.
“They used easy boats, picket boats … they actually went there on their very own.”
Source: www.9news.com.au
