10 Victims Of KM Ladang Pertiwi Drowning In Makassar Strait Rescued By Fishermen, Evacuated To Pamantauan Island

Head of the South Sulawesi Basarnas Office, Djunaidi/ANTARA

MAKASSAR - The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) of South Sulawesi again launched the addition of 10 people who survived the sinking of KM Ladang Pertiwi 2 in Makassar Strait waters.

"We have only been able to confirm from the SAR team on the ground that the reports of 10 victims found by fishermen were safe and were evacuated to Pamantauan Island," said Head of the South Sulawesi Basarnas Office, Djunaidi, in Makassar as reported by Antara, Monday, May 30.

In order to ensure the condition of the 10 victims who survived the shipwreck, the search team carried out direct checks using KN SAR Kamajaya on Pamantauan Island and all were in good health.

"To date, of the 42 passengers (KM Ladang Pertiwi 2), 31 survivors have been found," said Djunaidi.

From the data matching, 10 people were found safe, female on behalf of Masliang (50), male on behalf of Mahfud (35), Hilal (41), Supriadi (40), Rahmat (30), Khalilul Rahman (28), Panji (32), Rahma (40), Rafa (7), and Rafi (5).

Djunaidi said that currently KN SAR Kamajaya was heading back to Soekarno Hatta Harbor with the skipper and the owner of the ship.

"KN SAR Kamajaya has together with the skipper and ship owners headed to Soekarno Hatta Port and plans to dock at 21.00 WITA," he said.

In addition, KN SAR Kamajaya will refuel and provide logistics for preparations to continue the search for the 11 remaining victims who have not been found after the ship sank.

Meanwhile, previously, the family of the victim, Bambang Harianto, had reported that his family was safe at the South Sulawesi Police's DVI Command Post, Paotere People's Harbor, Makassar, Sunday.

"I got news from the WA (WhatsApp) video, there was a different ship (he said) that a ship took (the victim) from the sea, was immediately brought to the island. People on the ship heard people screaming in the ocean, "he explained.

When the victims were found at sea, the fishing boat immediately took all the victims to Monitoring Island. When the ship arrived, a number of people on the island immediately evacuated.

"Residents there immediately took it down. All the family, mamak, uncle (uncle), all the family," said Bambang stammering.

He was very grateful to hear that his family survived the disaster. Bambang then reported the victim's discovery to the South Sulawesi Police DVI post for the identification process.

Bambang stated that his family's purpose was to go to Makassar, to buy basic needs, as well as merchandise to be resold on the island where they live.

"Buying goods for business, selling basic daily needs on Pamantauan Island. There were 42 people leaving at that time (by boat) to Makassar," he said.

KM Ladang Pertiwi 02 previously sailed from Paotere People's Harbor with routes to several islands, namely Monitoring Island, Masalima Island, Salirian Island, Pamalikan Island. But on the way, he had an accident so he was declared drowned on Friday, May 26, 2022, at around 13.30 WITA.