Basarnas Searches For 3 Seafarers Whose Engines Died In Malaoge Waters

JAKARTA - The Wakatobi SAR Post Rescue Team, Kendari Basarnas, conducted a search for three sailors who experienced engine failure in Malaoge Waters, Buton Regency, Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra).

Head of the Kendari Basarnas Muhammad Arafah in Kendari, Saturday, said the three sailors were named La Weather (47), La Ote (47), and La Alun (20), who are residents of Damai Laburona Village, Bonegunu District, North Buton Regency.

He conveyed that the disaster experienced by the three people was first informed by a family of the victim named Laode Tasrim, who reported that there had been a ship accident around the Malaoge Waters on Friday at around 16.25 WITA.

"He reported that there had been a ship accident, namely one ship loaded with three people had engine failures around the Malaoge Waters," Arafah said, quoting Antara.

Based on the report, continued Arafah, his party dispatched the Wakatobi SAR Post Rescue Team to the reported place using rubber boats to provide SAR assistance.

"The distance from the location with the Wakatobi SAR Post is about 15 nautical miles," he said.

He said the joint SAR team arrived at the location mentioned at around 18.20 WITA and then immediately conducted a search by combing the five nautical mile radius until 21.50 WITA.

"Because it was not found, the search was temporarily suspended with zero results and will resume tomorrow," he explained.

Arafah revealed that currently the joint SAR team was conducting a second day of searching for the victims. The head of the Kendari Basarnas explained that the ship accident experienced by the victims began on Friday at 06.30 WITA, sailing from Lambale, North Buton Regency to Wanci, Wakatobi Regency.

"At around 12.00 WITA the engine was turned off due to being hit by high waves, so one of the victims contacted his family in Wanci to ask for help," said Arafah.