Armed With A Cellphone, This Fisherman In North Galela Halmahera Survives The Sea That Goes Raging

The SAR team rescued fishermen in Halut waters due to engine failure, Sunday (24/8/2025). (ANTARA/Abdul Fatah)

A fisherman in Galela District, North Halmahera Regency, was rescued by a joint SAR team after the boat suffered damage to the propeller while fishing in the waters of Dodowo Village, Halmahera Island.

"The weather at that time was less friendly, the waves were quite high and strong winds were obstacles, but the team continued to do their best so that the victims could be found immediately," said Head of the Ternate Basarnas Iwan Ramdani, in Ternate, Antara, Sunday, August 24.

Fisherman named Heri (40), a resident of Bobisingo Village, is known to have gone to sea since morning to fish. However, at around 12.00 WIT, the propeller of his catting boat broke so the boat could not be controlled.

In a state of motion, Heri contacted his family to ask for help. The report was forwarded to the Tobelo SAR Post, Basarnas, for search and evacuation.

The report was received at around 12.30 WIT, and at 13.26 WIT the joint SAR team immediately departed to the location of the alleged incident using the Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) 03 Tobelo.

After nearly two hours of sweeping, at 15.31 WIT the victim was found safe at the coordinate point 1 deg54'43.00"N / 127 deg 55'59.48"E, about 3.82 nautical miles (NM) to the south from the starting point of the search.

The victim was then evacuated to Bobisingo Village and handed over to the family. After confirming the condition of the victim survived and was not seriously injured, the operation was officially closed.

Head of the Tobelo SAR Post expressed his appreciation to all parties who assisted in the search process. "Thank you for the cooperation of all the elements involved. This synergy is proof that togetherness between Basarnas, the apparatus, and the community is very important in every rescue operation at sea," he said.

He added that this incident was a reminder for fishermen to always check the condition of boats and equipment before going to sea, as well as bring emergency communication tools in anticipation of unwanted things.