PEMALANG, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- Over 3 weeks after their boat capsized in the south coast of West Java, Indonesia, seven people were able to survive until a passing ship spotted and rescued them, local media reported Tuesday, adding that five others remained missing.

On June 4, a small boat with a crew of 12 people capsized, and according to the boat's skipper, Jupri, 45, they were sailing in normal condition until two sudden tremors from below the sea caused the boat to lose its stability and eventually capsize in the Pelabuhan Ratu waters off the coast of Indonesia's West Java Province, Antara news agency reported.

On Monday, the MV Kimi Wijaya spotted and picked up the group of seven people floating in the sea, holding on to their boat's frame. All seven from Tanjungsari, Petarukan sub district, Pemalang District, Central Java had multiple wounds on their body.

According to Jupri, the body wounds were a result of fish biting on them throughout the weeks, as they held on, keeping their hopes alive despite facing extreme weakness without any food or drinking water. The group made it through by drinking sea water.

During the incident, five people, all residents of the village of Asem Doyang in the subdistrict of Petarukan, went missing and have not been seen ever since. All seven survivors were transported to the Santa Maria Hospital in Pemalang, Central Java where they were receiving medical treatment.

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