Illegal Migrant Workers Ship Sinks In Karimun Waters, 3 People Still Missing

The joint team evacuated a number of survivors in the sinking ship incident in the waters of Karimun, Riau Islands, Monday (6/1/2024). (ANTARA/HO-Humas SAR Tanjungpinang)

Head of the Riau Islands Indonesian Migrant Workers Service and Protection Center (BP3MI) Kombes Imam Riyadi stated that the long boat that sank in the waters of Tanjung Balai Karimun, Monday (6/1), was suspected of transporting non-procedural Indonesian migrant workers from Malaysia.

The ship was carrying nine passengers, consisting of seven illegal or illegal magrannon procedural workers and two crew members.

Six people were declared safe, while two migrant workers and a ship captain were declared missing. One of the missing victims is a 2.5-year-old toddler.

"Of the six survivors, one of them is suspected of being the perpetrator who facilitated the transportation of illegal migrant workers and is currently still being held at Lanal Karimun," said Kombes Imam Riyadi in Tanjungpinang, Tuesday, January 7.

He explained the chronology of the incident began when the Tanjung Balai Karimun Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Service Post (P4MI) reported information from members of the Karimun Navy Base (Lanal) that there had been a long boat accident in the waters around Monday (6/1).

After receiving the report, his party immediately coordinated and visited the Lanal Karimun pier with related agencies to provide assistance, evacuation and protection for seven survivors, including collecting data on two victims of migrant workers being treated at Muhammad Sani Hospital.

In addition, BP3MI Riau Islands is also coordinating with the Karimun Police Satpol Air to investigate the perpetrators who facilitate or transport the victims.

The accident ship allegedly just picked up Indonesian migrant workers from Malaysia and was taken to Karimun Regency.

"The victims are planned to be sent back to their area of origin," said Kombes Imam as quoted by ANTARA.

The Tanjungpinang SAR Office Command Center previously received a report from POCC Singapore regarding the long boat accident on Karimun Besar Island, Monday (6/1), at around 06:26 WIB.

The ship carrying nine passengers, six of whom survived after being evacuated by the Oil Tanker Navi8 Guards around the scene. Meanwhile, three other people are still missing and have not been found.

Head of the Tanjungpinang SAR Office, Fazzli, said that search and rescue efforts were being carried out by the joint SAR team to search for three missing victims in Karimun waters.

In addition, coordination is also carried out with the authorities to investigate the cause of the accident and ensure the safety of the missing victims.

"The search operation will continue until a bright spot is found," said Fazzli.