SAR Team Finds Three Gaharu Searchers In Natuna, Turns Out Not Lost

NATUNA - The joint SAR team in Natuna, Riau Islands, managed to find three seafarers who were previously reported missing in the Bukit Bedung forest in a safe and healthy condition.

Head of the Natuna Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas), Abdul Rahman, said the three victims were found on Sunday afternoon in the forest area of Pengadah Village, East East Bunguran District.

The victim was then taken to the Basarnas office for questioning to find out the chronology of their disappearance.

According to Abdul Rahman, the three people were previously reported missing by their families on Friday night, after not returning home for more than 10 days in the forest.

However, based on the information received, the victims were actually not missing, but there was a miscommunication between them and their families.

"On the seventh day, the victim contacted the family and reported that he would extend the search time for thegarwoodfor up to eight days. After that, communication was cut off because the communication equipment ran out of battery," he said as quoted by Antara.

The family thought they were going home on July 8, but because there was no news until July 11, the family finally made a report for fear. The SAR team started a search operation on Saturday and had to spend the night in the forest due to unfavorable conditions for a night search, then continued the search on Sunday morning.

The search operation involved various elements, including Basarnas Natuna, TNI, Polri, BPBD Natuna, sub-district and village governments, community leaders, NTAC trail communities, and local residents.

"When found, the victims were surprised because they did not expect to have been searched by many people," said Abdul Rahman.