Barcelona Ship Still Uses Smoke, 2 Passengers Have Not Been Found
JAKARTA - The Barcelona VA motorboat that caught fire in the waters of Talise Island, North Minahasa, North Sulawesi, until Wednesday, July 23, still emitted smoke. Until now, two passengers who were victims of the fire have not been found.
Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi asked for the cooling process to be accelerated so that the National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) could immediately start investigating the cause of the fire.
"Based on a report from KSOP Manado, the ship is still emitting smoke so the cooling process is still ongoing," Dudy said in a written statement from Jakarta, Wednesday, July 23.
The cooling process has been carried out again since Wednesday morning using KN Pasatimpo P 212 and KN 331 from the Bitung Class II Marine and Coast Guard Base (PLP), as well as involving joint personnel from PLP Bitung, KSOP Bitung, KSOP Manado, and UPP Likupang.
"I ask the team to speed up the cooling process so that the NTSC can immediately enter the ship area to conduct an investigation," said the Minister of Transportation.
Although some KNKT officers have been at the location, the investigation has not yet begun because the condition of the ship is not yet fully safe.
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Meanwhile, the joint SAR team is still searching for two passengers who were reported missing by the family. The search is extended to the northeast from the starting point of the fire and will continue for the next three days.
Minister of Transportation Dudy expressed his hope that all KM Barcelona victims could be found soon and the passengers who are currently being treated at the hospital can recover soon and reunite with their families.