Yusuf Latief, a spokesman for the National Search and Rescue Agency, said that the distress call indicated that there was a threat to the vessel.
According to the head of the local search and rescue office, Muslimin Samaila, after the loss of contact, rescuers rushed to where the ship's signal was last registered.
Samaila said that the rescue operation was halted for the night due to unfavourable weather conditions but would be resumed on Monday.
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