Facing Chinese New Year 2024, Basarnas Prepares 5 Service Posts

Illustration, passenger ships docked at Pangkalbalam Port, Pangkalpinang City (ANTARA/HO-Aprionist)

The Bangka Belitung Islands Basarnas (Babel) has alerted five rescue and search service posts, as preparedness and handling of ship accidents ahead of the 2024 Chinese New Year celebration.

"We are on special alert to anticipate traffic accidents for people transporting ships and beach attractions ahead of this year's Chinese New Year," said Head of the Babel Islands Province Basarnas Office I Made Oka Astawa in Pangkalpinang, Wednesday, January 31, as reported by Antara.

He said the five SAR service posts in the Babel Islands Province that were alerted included Pangkalbalam Pangkalpinang City, Muntok West Bangka Regency, Toboali Bangka Selatan, Tanjungpandan Belitung and Manggar, East Belitung Regency.

In addition, the Babel Islands Basarnas has also alerted personnel in the coastal tourist attraction area. This effort is to anticipate tourist accidents that are dragged by the current while traveling to celebrate Chinese New Year.

"All of these posts already have a sea and land service flow, in order to optimize aid services to accident victims at sea," he said.

He stated, during the 2024 Chinese New Year, the team was alerted 24 hours at crossing points for passenger transport ships at Pangkalbalam Port, Tanjung Kalian, Sadai, Tanjungpandan and Manggar.

"Towards this Lunar New Year, there will be an increase in the flow of passengers transporting sea, air and land, so we have to anticipate it," he said.

He appealed to the public to immediately report if there was a ship accident at sea, so that the team could respond quickly and provide assistance to victims of this accident.

"The public can report to anyone or other relevant agencies in the event of an accident, so that the National Search and Rescue Agency team can quickly provide assistance," he said.