ABK Drowns In Barito River Found Dead

The joint SAR team when evacuating the body of the crew of the TB Sakhamas 01 ship that drowned in the waters of the Barito River, Barito Kuala Regency (ANTARA)

The Banjarmasin Basarnas team managed to find and evacuate the bodies of a crew member (ABK) named Muhammad Fikri Khairil (18) from South Sulawesi (Sulsel), a passenger on the ship TB Sakhamas 01 who sank while carrying out activities in the waters of the Barito River, Barito Kuala Regency, South Kalimantan (South Kalimantan).

Head of Basarnas Banjarmasin Al Amrad in Banjarmasin, Tuesday, said the victim drowned in the waters of the Barito River on Monday (22/4) at around 02.00 WITA. The SAR team managed to find the victim on the second day, precisely Tuesday at around 09.00 WITA.

Two teams dispersed, the team found the victim 700 meters from the starting point at the time of drowning. The victim has been taken to Ulin Hospital in Banjarmasin for further medical treatment," he said.

Al Amrad said the victim, who is a resident of West Belajen, Kambiolangi Village, Alla District, Enrekang Regency, South Sulawesi Province, sank before the ship was processed to dock in the waters of the Barito River.

After the ship had finished its movement, another crew member realized that the victim was no longer on the ship. Then the victim's colleague contacted the ship's agent until it was forwarded to the Banjarmasin SAR office," he said.

On the first day of the search process, he said, the SAR Team searched up to 500 meters from the location point of sinking to the upstream and downstream but found no results.

Furthermore, on the second day, the SAR Team increased search efforts by forming two teams to the upstream and downstream until finally finding the victim 700 meters from the sinking point in a state of death.

Al Amrad appealed to people who carry out activities in water areas, both rivers and seas, to complete personal protective equipment, especially buoys for mutual safety during activities.

"I thank all SAR elements involved until they managed to find the victim within 2x24 hours," he said.