Fishermen looking for crabs lost on Sunyut Island, Natuna SAR Team conducts search

RIAU - A joint SAR team in Natuna Regency, Riau Islands Province (Kepri), carried out a search operation for a crab fisherman who was reported missing on Sunyut Island.

Head of the Natuna SAR Office, Abdul Rahman, said the man was named Ica Kusuma (40). The report of the victim's loss was received on Monday morning from the victim's family.

Based on family information, he said, the victim departed for Sunyut Island, Laut Island District, with his colleague named Danil on Sunday at around 23.00 WIB to look for crabs.

Around Monday morning, he continued, his colleague finished looking for crabs and waited on the beach. Because the victim did not return, Danil returned to the original location when they parted, but the victim was also not there.

"According to Danil, the last victim was seen together around Sunyut Island at coordinates 4° 39.678'N 107° 58.130'E. The location is 4.9 km away with a heading of 114° from the Sea Island SAR Alert Unit," he confirmed from Natuna, Antara, Monday, May 18.

Immediately after receiving the report, he said, the Natuna SAR Office immediately sent a team to the last location where the victim was reported to have been seen.

The team deployed consists of elements of the Sea Island SAR Standby Unit, Sea Island Post, Sea Island Police, Sea Island Koramil, and community SAR potential. The operation uses one LCR (Landing Craft Rubber) and is assisted by the surrounding community.

"According to the report from the family, of course we will try to search intensively while still paying attention to the safety of all elements involved," he said.

Based on the official report of the BMKG, he said, the weather was observed to be cloudy to potentially moderate rain. Wind speed of five knots from the west, sea wave height of 1.3 meters and low tide condition of 0.3 meters.

The Natuna SAR Office appealed to the public who were active in the surrounding waters to monitor this information and immediately report if they found signs of the victim's whereabouts.

"We ask for the prayers and support of the entire community so that the search will soon find a bright spot and the victim can be saved," said Abdul Rahman.