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.

[4] The ferry was reportedly carrying more than four times the rated capacity of 43 passengers and was equipped with only 45 life jackets.

[5] Survivors stated that the winds were blowing hard and the waves were rough, with heavy rain.

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.

[10] 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.

[11] 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.

However, as authorities asked the public to report any missing relatives suspected to be passengers of the ferry, the number rose to 94.

[17] On 20 June 2018, the National Search and Rescue Agency confirmed that a total of 166 people were reported missing.

[11] 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.

In the late evening of 19 June, a C-130 Hercules carrying multiple personnel and advanced equipment arrived at Silangit Airport.

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi stated that the search and rescue operation would be extended to ten days if necessary.

[11] Officials decided to widen the search area to 10 square kilometres (3.9 sq mi) to the east.

In the evening, a meeting was held between authorities and family members to discuss whether the search and rescue effort should be continued or not.

The Indonesian Search and Rescue Agency announced that their personnel had captured an object in their sonar image.

Later in the evening, the Head of the Indonesian Search and Rescue Agency, Muhammad Syaugi, stated that an ROV spotted bodies and motorcycles in the surrounding area.

Police confirmed that the weather at the time was bad, and added that it might have contributed to the cause of the disaster.

[37] The Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics claimed that they had warned people twice to not board any boat or ferry, just hours before the disaster.

[40] President Joko Widodo ordered the Minister of Transportation to conduct an immediate evaluation of the safety of all ferry services.

[43] The captain of the ferry, Situa Sagala, was arrested at his house at Simanindo on 18 June, the day of the sinking, having crossed back across to the island by some other means of transportation.

[45] On 19 November 2018, more than 5 months after the disaster, the Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee published the final report of the investigation.

However, the presence of the third deck, which was located on top of the ferry and was used as a selfie spot, was a major factor in the capsizing.

However, even if the ferry had been equipped with sufficient life jackets, NTSC stated that no one would have been able to wear them as the capsizing happened so quickly.

Deviation from regulations and insufficient supervision from local officials also contributed to the poor quality of the crew.

[11] Jasa Raharja, a state-owned insurance company, stated that they would cover the expenses of the victims, stating that a total amount of 50 million rupiah (approximately US$3,500) would be given to the relatives of the deceased while a total amount of 20 million rupiah (approximately US$1,400) would be given to the relatives of the injured survivors.

[46] Many relatives of the victims expressed anger at the government for not enforcing basic safety measures on passenger boats and pleaded for a bigger search effort.

[47] On 2 July, families and relatives of the victims held a memorial service near the location of the sinking.