The Saumlaki SAR Team Evacuated 7 Longboat Passengers Drowning In Waves

The Saumlaki SAR Team, Tanimbar Islands Regency, Maluku managed to evacuate seven longboat passengers who drowned due to being hit by high waves.

"By using the Polarud Saumlaki patrol boat, the joint SAR team moved to Tanjung Jasi with a distance of approximately 18 nautical miles from the Saumlaki SAR Post," said Head of the Ambon Basarnas Search and Rescue Office Mustari, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, May 23.

Seven victims in the longboat were Fransikus Layan (34),gelbertus (44), Yohanes Longdar (48), Samon Samangun (34), Mateus Samangun (47), Thomas Luturmas (33), and Agus Lanyabar (28).

According to him, the SAR operation was carried out after the Coordinator of the Saumlaki SAR Post, Gleen Tehuguring, received information from Angky Samangun that at 08.16 WIT, a longboat with seven passengers was hit by waves and drowned around the waters of Tanjung Jasi (KTI).

The Saumlaki SAR post responded quickly to the sea accident report by deploying a rescue team to the scene to carry out SAR operations.

"Four hours of travel at 14:27 WIT, the joint SAR team arrived at the scene and managed to evacuate the seven victims safely," said Mustari.

All victims were then taken to Saumlaki, the capital of Tanimbar Islands Regency for medical treatment.

Based on the information of one of the victims, they departed from Sera Island to Saumlaki City.

But in the middle of the trip, precisely around the waters of Tanjung Jasi, the longboat was hit by waves and drowned. Luckily they all managed to swim to the nearest island.

"We immediately informed the family, asking Basarnas for help for evacuation," Mustari said, citing the explanation of one of the survivors.