Basarnas Temporarily Closes Search for 14 Victims of KM Nurul Salsa
MAKASSAR - The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has closed the SAR operation for the search for 14 people who were victims of the KM Nurul Salsa accident which sank in the Selayar Waters, west of Polasi Island, Selayar Regency, South Sulawesi.
"For the closure, it is planned for this afternoon, a temporary closure. Because the SAR operation is in accordance with the SOP or Circular Letter Number 5 of the Kabasarnas, it is a seven-day search limit. However, yesterday there was an extension (three days), due to the evaluation of the team in the field," said Head of the Makassar Basarnas Office Muhammad Arif Anwar as reported by ANTARA, Friday, July 24.
The SAR operation to search for the victim has been going on for seven days and has been extended for three days for a total of 10 days. However, the decision will be confirmed after the results of today's evaluation.
"This afternoon, we will carry out a second evaluation regarding the extension or not. However, the instructions from the central leadership on the 10th day were temporarily closed," he said.
Even though the operation is closed, if there are reports related to the victim's findings, the SAR operation may be reopened, but only an evacuation operation for the victim is carried out, then handed over to the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team for identification.
Regarding the 14 victims who are still being searched, said Arif, the Joint SAR Team is still carrying out search duties on the 10th day or last day. Furthermore, an evaluation was carried out, including the total number of passengers on the ship.
"From the results of the evaluation it is like that. Therefore, by apologizing, the limit is seven days, plus three days, that is usually. Therefore, we hope that on these uninhabited islands they are there (stranded), if there is (found) we will immediately carry out evacuation," he said.
Based on initial data, the number of victims on the ship was 78 people. After being verified by the police team at the Benteng SAR Post together with the Selayar Regency Government, the data was updated to 76 people. This data is valid until the 10th day of the search and there are no new reports from the family.
"We have evacuated or saved 58 people. Until today, we have handed over the third victim. The first victim was not handed over to DVI, because the victim died at the same time during the evacuation of the survivors. So, 4 people died, and 14 people are still being searched for," he said.