SAR Team Finds Missing Ship Driver In Waters Of Labengki Sultra

The joint SAR team managed to find a driver and technician for a small tourist delivery ship that was previously reported missing while escorting tourists to Labengki Island in North Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi.

"The two victims were found safe by the Joint SAR Team about 15.72 nautical miles north of the northeast from their location reportedly said," said Acting Head of the Kendari Basarnas Office, Rudi, as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, May 4.

Rudi said the two victims named Sahid (49), a resident of Nii Tanasa Village, Lalonggasumeeto District, Konawe Regency, were ship drivers and Bakri (60) as ship technicians were residents of Raparenopaka Village, Lalonggasumeeto District, Konawe.

The two victims were then evacuated to Nii Tanasa Village, Lalonggasumeeto District, Konawe Regency by the joint SAR Team.

Previously, on Wednesday (3/5) at around 09.15 WITA, there were two ships with four passengers each, with details of two from the ship and two local tourists who were about to be delivered to Labengki Island.

The two ships departed from the Nii Tanasa Port in Konawe Regency to Labengki Island, North Konawe Regency to escort four local tourists by loading two people each on each ship.

Furthermore, at 11.00 WITA, one of the two ships experienced engine failures around the waters between Labengki Island and Bahubulu Island, North Konawe. As a result, two local tourists moved on the other ship to continue their journey to Labengki Island.

While the first ship repaired the engine. After delivering the four local tourists, the second ship returned home and passed through the location of the first ship experienced engine failure.

However, the first ship with two passengers was gone, so the first ship continued its journey back to the port of Nii Tanasa.

Arriving at the second ship at the Nii Tanasa Port, they did not see the first ship. At that time, a search was carried out but with no results, so the incident was reported to the Kendari Basarnas.

"With the discovery of the victim, the SAR operation is declared complete and closed, all elements involved are returned to their respective units," said Rudi.