90 Percent of the Burnt Ship, 41 Victims of the KM Mutiara Sentosa II Have Not Been Found

SURABAYA - The joint SAR team is still continuing the search for victims of the KM Mutiara Sentosa II fire in the northern waters of Sumenep Regency, Madura, until Sunday, August 2. Based on official data from the Surabaya SAR office, as many as 41 people are still being searched.

The latest development until 16.00 WIB recorded 225 people were successfully evacuated in a safe condition, five people died, while 41 others have not been found.

Previously, at 15.15 WIB update, the SAR Team recorded 218 survivors and four deaths, or 222 people had been evacuated. Based on the provisional manifest which contained 271 passengers and crew (ABK), there were still dozens of people who were not yet recorded at that time.

The rescue operation involved at least nine ships around the scene to evacuate passengers and search for victims.

The details of the temporary evacuation show: 1. KM Meratus Pematang Siantar evacuated 109 survivors and two dead. 2. TB Hasnur 26 evacuated 65 survivors and one dead. 3. Other rescue boats also evacuated dozens of survivors and two dead, so that the victims who were successfully evacuated reached 225 survivors and five dead.

Based on the chronology of the incident, the fire is suspected to have started around 06.00-07.00 WIB. The captain had reported the incident before communication with the ship was cut off.

The Surabaya SAR Office received an emergency report at 08.24 WIB. Tracking results showed that KM Mutiara Sentosa II was about 19 nautical miles north of Sapudi Island, Sumenep Regency.

"Temporary data until 18.00 WIB, a total of 232 people were successfully evacuated, consisting of 227 survivors and five deaths," said Head of the Surabaya Class A SAR Office Nanang Sigit, Sunday, August 2.

The ship serving the Surabaya-Makassar route is known to carry around 181 vehicles. The cause of the fire is still under investigation and is suspected to have originated from the vehicle loading area.

Until now, the search has been focused on the waters around the location of the fire because it is suspected that there are still victims who jumped into the sea when the incident occurred. Based on aerial surveillance, about 90 percent of the ship's body has been burned and no longer seen passengers on board.

The victims who were successfully evacuated were taken to the Kalianget Port, Sumenep, to undergo health examinations and data collection before being sent home or referred to health facilities.

Meanwhile, the whereabouts of the captain of the KM Mutiara Sentosa II are still unknown after communication was interrupted shortly after the initial report of the fire was submitted.