Overturned Mining Boat In Surabaya, Dozens Of Victims And One Still Missing

Dozens of people became victims after a mining boat capsized and sank while operating in a river in the Mastrip Kemlaten Highway area, Kota, Surabaya, East Java, Saturday, March 25.

"Eight (victims) who survived have been sidelined, then two people were taken to the hospital, one was missing, two officers survived, so a total of 13 passengers," said Head of Emergency and Logistics Division of the Surabaya City Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Buyung Hidayat, quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, March 25.

In addition to transporting passengers, the mining boat that is usually used by the community crosses the local river, also carries a number of two-wheeled vehicles.

"Vehicles (which are transported by boats) are more than five units," he said.

Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit (Reskrim) of the Karangpinang Police, Iptu Gogot Purwanto, said officers were currently still carrying out search efforts on one victim who was declared missing. He also did not know the detailed identity of the victim.

"One (missing victim) is still being sought. We do not yet know whether the victim is a woman or a man," he said.

The incident began when the boat carrying 13 people was crossing the river in the Jalan Mastrip Kemlaten area, Surabaya.

When the boat passed, the river current was suspected to be in a heavy condition and the mining boat was then leaking until it capsized.

Officers at the mining boat then tried to make rescue efforts on all passengers. However, there was one who was then swept away by the river current.

After receiving the incident report, the local police, the Kedurus PKM, the Surabaya City BPBD, and several other officers immediately went to the scene to evacuate the survivors.

The Surabaya City BPBD also opened a search post for one victim of a mining boat that was declared missing.

Based on the information gathered, five Surabaya City SAR Office officers were also deployed to assist in the search for one victim who was declared missing.