Crossing Boat In Mimika Overturned, 6 Passengers Survived And 1 Still Wanted

Timika SAR team while searching for missing victims in Asmat. (ANTARA)

TIMIKA - Timika Search and Rescue Office (SAR), Mimika Regency, Central Papua Province, is still looking for passengers on the 15 PK "Longboat" boat who experienced an incident overturned at Muara Atsy.

Head of the Timika SAR Office, George LM Randang, said that his party received a report through the Asmat SAR Post, South Papua for the incident and immediately provided assistance because the distance between the two districts was very close.

"Asmat SAR Post received a report from the Head of Bectbamu District, Buntu Saleko, on Wednesday afternoon that there was a longboat of 15 PK capsized," Randang was quoted as saying by ANTARA, Thursday, August 10.

According to George, there were seven people who boarded the longboat, all departed from Fayit for Agats, but on the way was hit by the waves at Muara Atsy.

"The information received was that six people managed to survive, but one person is not yet known about the jungle," he said.

After receiving the report, his party immediately dispatched a joint SAR team from Timika using RIB 85 PK to the scene to conduct a search.

"The search process has not yielded results and will continue starting Thursday at 06.00 according to the H2 operation plan," he said again.

He added seven passengers namely Saferius Wofa (L/35); Lius Kawase (L/27); Agus Wasi (L/37); Albert Teser (L/32); Sahestina Tau Jaka (P/27); Saferius Wayap (L/37); Norberta (P/26).

"Of the seven passengers, six survived, while one person on behalf of Norberta (P/26) has not been found," he said again.