Yacth Ship Sailing From Raja Ampat To Sumbawa Burns In Southeast Sulawesi, 4 People Jump Into The Sea

Photo via ANTARA

KENDARI - The KLM tour boat Yatch Puti Raja, which sailed from Raja Ampat to Sumbawa Island, experienced a fire in the waters of Tobea Buton Strait, Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra).

Head of Public Relations of Basarnas Kendari Wahyudi said the ship was loaded with four people, one of whom was a foreign national from the US who was a crew member.

The data for the four passengers and crew are that the female Josephine (67) is an Indonesian national ship captain; Benny Raiwaki (56) ABK is an Indonesian citizen; Jalil Loji (33) ABK is an Indonesian citizen; and Ken Weidenhoeft, 84 years old male foreign national from the US.

The ship sailed from Yapale, South Misool Island, Raja Ampat Regency to Sumbawa Island to undergo repairs, but caught fire in the Buton Strait on Monday, 19 April evening.

"Based on interviews with friends in the field, the ship wants to be docking (to be repaired) in Sumbawa. That's a tourist boat. The daily tour boat there, in Raja Ampat," said Wahyudi.

During the incident, the four victims jumped into the sea without carrying official documents. Not long after, the four of them were rescued by fishermen who saw the incident.

Luckily at the time of the incident, the KM Jetliner which sailed from Raha Port, Muna Island to Bungkutoko Port, Kendari City received a "distress call".

"So, on Monday (19/4) at 17.25 Wita KM Jetliner captain ordered to go to that location to carry out SAR assistance," explained Wahyudi.

The four victims were then taken to Kendari City by KM Jetliner. After arriving in Kendari City, the four of them were taken to the Bhayangkara Hospital in Kendari City for medical treatment.