Speedboat Basarnas Explodes In Ternate Waters, 3 People Killed, 1 Journalist Missing

The Speedboat RIB 04 belonging to the Ternate Basarnas brought 11 joint SAR teams to explode while sailing towards evacuation operations, (ANTARA)

Director of the Water and Air Police (Dirpolairud) of the North Maluku Police, Kombes Pol Azhari Juanda, revealed that the speedboat brought 11 members of the evacuation team tasked with helping fishermen who experienced engine failure in the waters of Gita, South Oba, Tidore Islands City.

As a result of the explosion, three people were declared dead, namely: 1. Bharatu Mardi Hadji (a member of Ditpolairud Polda Malut) 2. Fadli M Malagapi (a member of Basarnas) 3. M Riski Esa (a member of Basarnas)

Meanwhile, a Metro TV journalist, Sahril Helmi, is still being searched by the joint SAR team.

A total of seven people managed to survive and have been evacuated to the nearest health facility. They are: - M Syahran Laturua (Kasi Ops Basarnas) - Ryan Azur Ali (PNS SAR Ternate City) - Hamja Djirun (PNS SAR Ternate City) - Darmanto Rauf (PNS SAR Ternate City) - Maretang City Police (PNS SAR Ternate) - Bripka Irwan Idris (member of Ditpolairud Polda Malut) - Bripda Putra Nusantara Ruslan (member of Ditpolairud Polda Malut)

The survivors were first discovered by ** the fast boat KM Cantika Lestari 10, which was sailing from Gita Harbor to Manado.

They were then evacuated to Gita Harbor and received treatment at the Sukare Health Center before being transferred to Ternate using KM Pandudewanata.

The joint SAR team is still searching for Sahril Helmi. Meanwhile, the authorities are investigating the cause of the speedboat explosion.

Kombes Pol Azhari Juanda revealed that the bodies of the three victims had been evacuated to Ternate using a fast boat belonging to Polairud Polda Malut.

"The victim who died on behalf of Bharatu Mardi Hadji has been taken to the funeral home, while two seriously injured victims were immediately treated at the Chasan Boesoirie Hospital Ternate," said Azhari.

However, he has not been able to provide detailed information about the chronology of the incident.

"Kronologinya nanti akan disampaikan oleh pihak Basarnas," tambahnya.

Ketika ditanya mengenai penyelidikan penyebab ledakan, Azhari menegaskan bahwa fokus utama saat ini adalah mengevakuasi dan menangani para korban.

"We are still focused on evacuating the victims first," he said.

For information, this incident occurred at around 00.00 WIT, when the joint SAR team was on a mission to rescue two fishermen who had engine failures in the waters of Gita.