Deploying Warships, Indonesian Navy Successfully Evacuated 4 Fishermen Floating For 3 Days In Bangka Waters

The Commander of the Super Garuda Shield 2022 Task Force, First Admiral TNI H. Krisno Utomo asked the condition of the four fishermen who were rescued by the Indonesian Navy. (AMONG)

BATAM - The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) rescued four fishermen from the KM Rizky ship which had been floating for three days in the eastern waters of Bangka, Bangka Belitung Province.

The rescue operation was carried out by 3 warships, Sunday, July 31.

"Alhamdulillah yesterday around 07.30 WIB. They were found on the east side of the waters of Bangka," said the Commander of the Super Garuda Shield 2022 Task Force, First Admiral H. Krisno Utomo in Batam, Riau Islands, Antara, Monday, August 1.

Krisno said the four fishermen, Ikram (35 years), Suryanto (42 years), Hajra (22 years) and Lasu Harjo (29 years) were found floating in the sea for three days using a board.

“When we found the four of them were already in a weak condition. When we helped with the KRI, they were immediately put on board and given first aid and treatment," he said.

He explained that this incident began when the boat used by the four fishermen experienced engine problems accompanied by bad weather, causing the boat to be badly damaged.

“At the time of the incident, the fish load that was obtained was not large. According to their information, all the ships and fish they could sink," he said.

Krisno said that currently the four fishermen will be handed over to the Batam Navy base, the Police, Basarnas and the All Indonesian Fishermen Association (HNSI).

"Later on, we will return these four fishermen to their original areas after the health check process," he said.

Ikram, the captain of the ship, KM Rizky, said the incident occurred when they were about to fish, but the bad weather caused their boat to suffer serious damage.

"The board broke because it was hit by the waves," he said.

After their ship sank, he and his three companions survived by floating in the ocean for three nights.

"We floated using a fiber cover, three days and three nights without eating and drinking," he said.

He was very grateful that the Navy managed to find them, he even admitted that he would have given up if no one came to help them.

"My friends and I express our deepest gratitude to the Indonesian Navy personnel who have rescued us, we are very grateful," he said.