Evacuating KM United Victims On Berhala Island, Indonesian Navy Lifts Two ABK's Bodies

JAKARTA - During the Joint Search and Rescue Operation, the Indonesian Navy managed to find the victim of the United Motor Ship (KM) that caught fire in the waters of Berhala Island, North Sumatra, last Tuesday, August 3.

“The United Motorboat (KM) with a capacity of 60 gross tonnage, has a route from the Belawan fishing port to the fishing point in the waters of Berhala Island. The ship was also carrying 10 crew members. One crew member (ABK) died and two others were declared missing. Meanwhile, seven other people are safe and are already in Belawan,” explained TNI AL I (Lantamal I) Main Base Commander Admiral Achmad Wibisono, to reporters, Thursday, August 5.

TNI Admiral Achmad Wibisono explained that the first time who saw the incident was KM Tanto who was passing from the waters of Berhala Island to Belawan.

“When a fire broke out, a cargo ship named KM Tanto was passing from the waters of Berhala Island, he saw KM United on fire. Then, the ship tried to put out the fire but couldn't be saved and sank,” he continued.

Getting information about the incident, the Indonesian Navy deployed KRI Bubara-868 and KAL Tarihu to assist in the search and rescue of the ship's crew who were still missing.

"At around 10:00 WIB, Kal Tarihu has found two dead victims and currently the bodies of the two victims who died on behalf of Wak Jon (Nakhoda) and Simatupang (ABK) have been handed over to Polairud who were then taken to Bhayangkara Hospital Medan for an autopsy which will then be handed over to the police. the victim's family," explained Danlantamal I.

Meanwhile, Commander of Fleet Command I, Rear Admiral TNI Abdul Rasyid K, SEMM said that the Navy will always support search and rescue (SAR) operations such as those carried out in Belawan.

"Of course we are sorry for the disaster that befell our brothers and sisters, the fishermen, in two days the search carried out by KAL Tarihu who was an element of the Lantamal I Patrol Ship in the waters of Berhala Island was able to produce results by finding two victims who were declared missing at the time of the incident but in a state of death," said Pangkoarmada I.