Revoke The Status Of The KM Cepat Cantika 77 Fire Disaster, NTT BPBD: The Victim Command Post Remains Open Until Tomorrow

The victim's family signed the minutes of closing the search for 17 missing victims of the KM Cepat Cantika 77 fire. (ANTARA)

The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) revoked the disaster status of the fast motorboat (KM) Cantika 77 in the waters of Naikliu, Kupang Regency.

Status was revoked after Basarnas closed search operations for 17 missing ship passengers on Wednesday, November 2.

"After the joint SAR team stated that they had closed the search operation for the missing victims, the NTT Government automatically revoked the disaster status in the burning of the Cantika Express 77 Fast Ship," said Head of BPBD NTT Ambrosius Kodo in Kupang, NTT, Thursday, November 3.

The NTT Provincial Government has set a disaster status following a fire that hit KM Cepat Cantika 77 on a voyage from Kupang to Kalabahi, Alor Regency on Monday, October 24.

Ambrosius said that even though the disaster status had been revoked, the post for handling victims of KM Cepat Cantika 77 would still be opened until tomorrow, Friday, November 4.

The command post that was opened was at Tenau Kupang Port to anticipate if there were residents who provided information about the victim's discovery.

"We hope that if there are residents who find signs that the victim is found, they will immediately be informed to Basarnas or BPBD," said Ambrosius.

He admitted that his party had coordinated with BPBD in Kupang Regency to ask for help from communities in the northern coastal areas of NTT to report if they found information related to victims.