On The Fourth Day, The Search For 2 Longboat Victims Drowning In Halbar Maluku Is Still Zero

The search for two longboat victims drowned in the waters of Halbar, North Maluku. (Between)

The search operation for two longboat victims drowned in the waters of West Halmahera (Halbar) has entered its fourth day. However, until sunset today the search has not yielded results.

Head of the Operations Section of the Ternate Basarnas, Bram Madya, said the joint SAR team had been trying to search since August 19. As of Wednesday, August 23 at around 17.50, two victims Rendy Haya (25) and Eko (35) had not been found.

Today's search starts at 07.00 WIT, using RIB 04 Basarnas Ternate up to 16 Nm from LKP in Halbar waters.

Meanwhile, Longboats in the community conducted a sweep of up to 10 Nm north of West Halmahera waters. The search will resume on Thursday's fifth day tomorrow at 07.00 WIT.

In the search, the SAR elements involved included Basarnas Ternate, Kodim 1501/Ternate, Ditpolairud Polda Malut, BPBD Kab. Halbar, Koramil 1501-04/Sahu, Babinsa Desa Todane, Bhabinkamtibnas Polsek Sahu and the local community.

Previously, Basarnas Ternate stated that a longboat with five passengers was reported to have drowned in the waters of Sahu, Halbar Regency, North Maluku (Malut). The incident resulted in two people being reported missing.

He explained the chronology when the longboat departed from Baru Village to Ternate on Saturday 19 August night, then at 23.30 WIT, the victim was hit by waves and overturned.

So, on August 20, 2023 at 09.00 Wit, three victims were found floating in the sea by the speed of the Jailolo-Mother route in a safe condition in the waters of Todane Village and until now two other victims have not been found.

Five victims who used a longboat to Ternate City who were reported to have survived were Altin Kanari (48), Merdy Dedene (27) and Boy Malik (40), while two of them Rendy Haya (25) and Eko were declared missing and in the search process.

Head of Basarnas Ternate Fathur Rahman said he responded to the report. At 18.05 WIT, Basarnas Ternate coordinated with BPBD Halbar to convince about the incident.