Searches For 2 Fishermen Using Longboat Number 7 Lost In The Waters Of Morotai Ternate Stopped

Basarnas conducted a search for two longboat users on Tuesday, September 5. Both have not returned after going to sea on Sunday, September 3, 2023. (ANTARA-Abdul F)

North MALUKU - Basarnas closed a search operation for two longboat fishermen who have been declared missing in the waters of Morotai Island, Ternate since September 5, 2023.

The head of the Ternate Basarnas, Fathur Rahman, explained that the closure of the operation was because the search had been carried out for seven days since the victim's report was missing.

The missing victims were Sukri Soleman (41), a resident of Loleo Village, Morotai Jaya District, North Maluku (Malut) and Yusup Abdurahman (45), from Tomagoba Village, Tidore Islands District.

Both of them, when declared missing, went to sea using a longboat fiber with the characteristics of equipped with two 15 PK machines, 12 meters long and red number 7.

Fathur said that the search efforts had been carried out by the joint SAR Team to the maximum by deploying tools and personnel, but the victims could not be found.

The joint SAR team has also coordinated with the victim's family with the results that the SAR operation has been carried out for 7 days but no sign of the victim's whereabouts has been found.

Fathur added that SAR operations will be reopened if anyone sees or finds signs of the victim's whereabouts.

Information on the disappearance of these two victims has also been conveyed to related parties and ships passing through the area, to immediately report to Basarnas if they find victims.

Previously, on September 3, 2023 at 03.30 WIT, the victim went to sea to the FAD using a long boat with two 15 PK engines, but until the time this report was received the victim had not returned and the whereabouts were unknown.

According to the fishermen's colleagues, they did not see the victim's presence around the FAD where the victim was usually looking for fish.