NTT Fishermen Help Save Passengers Of The Burned Cantika 77 Fast Ship

Screenshots - The expressing fast ship of Cantika 77 that caught fire on the Kupang trip to Kalabahi, the capital of Alor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province. (ANTARA/HO-Screenshot video)

JAKARTA - North Amfoang District Kupang Regency deployed a fishing boat in Naikliu to help evacuate passengers of the express speedboat Cantika 77 which caught fire on the way to Kupang to Kalabahi, the capital city of Alor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province.

"We have asked all fishermen on the coast of Naikliu to help rescue and evacuate the passengers of the Express Cantika 77 ship who experienced a fire," said North Amfoang Sub-district Head, Ambros Nenobais when contacted by Antara from Kupang, Monday, October 24, as reported by Antara.

Ambros Nenobais said this was related to the efforts of the North Amfoang District government in assisting the rescue of the passengers of the Santika Fast Ship that caught fire Monday at around 14.00 WITA.

The fast Express Cantika 77 ship departed from Tenau Kupang Port at around 11.00 WITA but when it was off the coast of Batek Island, Kupang Regency, the fast boat Express Cantika 77 with dozens of passengers caught fire, turning towards the nearest port in Naikliu, Kupang Regency.

"We have deployed fishing boats belonging to the fishermen and the people of Naikliu to provide assistance to the passengers," said Ambros Nenobais.

He admitted that he did not know exactly the number of passengers on the ship who experienced this fate because it was still in the process of evacuating to the mainland Naikliu.

"We prioritize passengers to be rescued immediately in that incident," said Ambros Nenobais.

He explained that the weather conditions in Naikliu occurred in waves and winds were quite strong, but a number of fishermen continued to try to provide assistance to passengers.

Meanwhile, the SAR team from the Kupang Class A Search and Rescue Office has also moved to Naikliu to provide assistance and evacuation assistance to passengers and crew members of the Express Cantika 77 Fast Ship (ABK).