Receiving Hoax News During The Search Process, Basarnas: Fisherman On Buru Island, Maluku, Has Not Been Found

The joint SAR team conducted a search for Arifin Waiulung (50), a fisherman on Buru Island, Maluku on Friday, January 24. (ANTARA/HO-Basarnas Ambon)

MALUKU - Basarnas Ambon denied the hoax news amid the search for a fisherman from Buru Island, Maluku, who disappeared while saying goodbye to go to sea four days ago.

The hoax news narrated that the Buru Island fisherman had been found in Sanana, North Maluku.

"Information on the discovery of a fisherman named Arifin Waiulung (50) this year, it was discovered that the third day of SAR operation yesterday was not true or a hoax," said Head of the Ambon Basarnas, Muhamad Arafah in Ambon, Friday, January 24, as reported by Antara.

Arafah confirmed that his party was still conducting a search for victims who had previously been reported missing contact around the waters of Batu Jungku Island, Buru Regency, Maluku.

The chronology of the incident began when the victim went to sea on January 20, 2025 using a longboat around the waters of Batu Jungku. However, until 17.00 WIT, the victim did not return home as usual.

Using a speedboat, the joint SAR team at around 07.00 WIT on January 21 moved to conduct searches at a number of coordinate points at the MAPS SAR.

"A few hours of searching for victims, news circulated that the victim was found on Sanana Island, North Maluku Province," he said.

The Joint SAR team who received the information then coordinated with the Sanana SAR Alert Unit to check the accuracy of the information.

"However, after the inspection was carried out by the Sanana SAR alert personnel, this information was not true," he said.

The joint SAR team then resumed the search for victims until the afternoon but did not find any signs of the victim's whereabouts, and the search resumed today.