Goods Ship Sinks In Bunyu Waters, 1 Crew Reportedly Killed

Illustration of drowning (ANTARA)

The cargo ship KM Bunga Lia GT 31 which sailed from the Mosquito River, Nunukan Regency to Tarakan, North Kalimantan, sank in Bunyu waters, killing one crew member (ABK) named Akbar (30).

"The victim who died on behalf of Akbar was found at 09.00 WITA in Bunyu waters by KP. SBU XXIV 2003. Sandar at Polair pier at 09.55 WITA, then the victim died was evacuated to Tarakan Hospital," said the Commander of the Santrol Lantamal XII Tarakan Marine Lt. Col. (P) Yulius Azz Zaenal quoted by ANTARA, Monday, March 13.

The survivors were evacuated by RHIB Trimaran to the port of SDF Tarakan. The victim was then handled by the Lantamal Health Office XIII for further treatment at RSAL Dr. Ilyas Tarakan.

Yulius said that at 18.30 WITA on March 12, 2023 KM Bunga Lia GT 31 brought basic/mixed goods from the mosquito river to Tarakan.

Then at 00.15 WITA the ship capsized due to bad weather strong winds and was hit by big waves from behind the ship so that the ship capsized and all victims were looking for their own rescue.

"Mr. Amir saved himself using a wooden board and swam for three hours towards the mainland of Bunyu Island," said Yulius.

At 03.45 WITA Amir arrived on land and asked for help from Solikin, who is a local resident, to report to Posal Bunyu.

The names of the crew members of KM Bunga Lia are Amir (40), Akbar (30) who died, Ardiansyah alias Sumo (30), Mundar (30) and Jamaludin (41).

The survivors who were secured by Posal Bunyu were then handed over to the family who were carrying out the search using KM Ilham Bahari 02.

The KM Bunga Lia ship that sank in Bunyu waters was coordinates of the Incident Coordinator : 03 29 26,61 N 117 57 12.20 E.

"The cargo of mixed goods carried Soya, Milo and other basic necessities and for cargo is approximately 50 tons," said Dantrol.

The elements involved in the evacuation process included KRI Pandrong - 801, KRI Tongkol - 813, Patkamla Satrol TNI AL, RHIB Satrol TNI AL, TNI Posal Bunyu speed, KN Seta Basarnas and the 2003 SBU Polairud SBU ship.