“The waves are three to four metres high. It is raining heavily and it’s dark. We can only use smaller boats with good aerodynamics due to the weather. We are searching within 40 nautical miles of Sarang Alu Island.”
The tourists were making their way to Pinang Island, but had not reported their trip to the local port authority, according to the head of the rescue team.
Staff at the tiny resort there and rescue personnel in the Banyak Islands began the search at 2am on Monday but were unsuccessful.
Police, the military and volunteers have since joined Basarnas in a rescue team of more than 20 people.
More than 20 police and military are part of the rescue crew.
Octavianto said the boat did not have navigation devices.
The three Indonesians on board are the boat owner and two mechanics.
“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,” Octavianto said. “They used simple boats, wooden boats … they really went there on their own.”
The Nias search and rescue office was told the boat was missing on Monday morning, it said.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed the search and rescue operation was underway and that it was providing consular assistance to the families of the four Australians.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those missing during this distressing time,” a spokesperson said.
Pinang is marketed as a “protected tropical paradise hidden from the rest of the world”, with visitors able to rent out their own private island and stay in two ocean-fronting bungalows for a maximum of eight people.
Lying near the eponymous main island in the Banyaks, it boasts access to world-class waves at uncrowded surfing spots, as well as fishing, kayaking and a “castaway lifestyle”, according to the resort’s website.
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