Helicopter Carcasses Found On Fire, 8 Victims Evacuated From South Kalimantan Forest

The ground SAR team combed the forest shrubs in a third day of search for BK117 D3 helicopters that lost contact in a mountainous forest area, Mentewe District, Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan (ANTARA).

A total of eight victims of the helicopter incident fell in a forest area around the Mandian Damar Waterfall, Mentewe District, Tanah Bumbu Regency, South Kalimantan, and were taken to Bhayangkara Hoegeng Imam Santoso Hospital, South Kalimantan Police.

"It is estimated that the victim was evacuated and taken to Bhayangkara Hospital by land from Tanah Bumbu Regency," said Head of the Banjarmasin Class A Search and Rescue Office I Putu Sudayana, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, September 4.

He said the total number of victims of the crash helicopter was eight people.

"He was right from the information that all the victims were taken to Banjarmasin by land and taken to Bhayangkara Hospital, South Kalimantan Police," he said.

Previously, Basarnas Operations Director, First Admiral TNI Yudhi Bramantyo, said the joint SAR team found a helicopter carcass at point 03 deg 5 6 S 115 deg 37 39.07 E, a forest area around Mandian Damar Waterfall, Mentewe District, Tanah Bumbu Regency, South Kalimantan, Wednesday (3/9) afternoon.

On Scene Commander (OSC) has deployed all ground Search and Rescue Units (SRU) to the location of the discovery to strengthen the evacuation process.

"The helicopter carcass was found at 14:45 WITA. One victim has been evacuated dead, about 100 meters from the helicopter carcass, while the other seven are still in the search for helicopter carcasses," he said.

He said all joint SAR elements from Basarnas, TNI, Polri, BPBD, and potential SAR continue to work hard in the field with the support of the local community.

He said the burnt helicopter carcass was found about 700 meters from the coordinates previously provided by the National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC).

Basarnas is committed to continuing search and evacuation operations until all victims are successfully evacuated while still prioritizing the safety of personnel in the field.