Police Investigate KM Meranti Containing 200 Fiber Fish And 1.5 Ton Solar Drowning In Riau Islands Waters

Polairud personnel from the Anambas Islands Police and the joint SAR Team evacuated the crew of the Meranti Strait KM ship that sank in the waters of Mentalak Island, Anambas Islands Regency, Tuesday (8/10/2025). (ANTARA/HO-Polres Anambas Islands.)

The police are investigating the cause of the sinking of the Meranti Strait motorboat (KM) in the waters of Mentalak Island, Riau Islands (Kepri).

Anambas Islands Police Chief AKBP I Gusti Ngurah Agung Budianaloka said the accident did not cause any casualties, but material losses were quite large.

"Even though all the crew members survived. This incident caused a large material loss, estimated at Rp700 million," Gusti said confirmed in Batam, Tuesday, in Antara.

He explained that his party was following up on this incident to find out the exact cause of the sinking, so that similar incidents do not happen again, especially entering the end of the year, usually the waters are influenced by the North wind, where the water waves are higher than the usual moon.

"So the losses include one Meranti Strait KM unit, 200 fiber fish cargo, and 1.5 tons of diesel oil," he said.

Lebih lanjut dijelaskan, Kasatpolairud Polres Kepulauan Anambas Iptu Parlindungan Hasibuan mengatakan kecelakaan laut itu terjadi Selasa (8/10) dini hari sekitar pukul 03.20 WIB. KM Selat Meranti berukuran 34 GT membawa lima krub kapal termasuk Narkoda, diketahui beperlayar Tarempa menuju Kalimantan.

According to information from the captain, he said, the ship was flowing hard and capsized suddenly. The crew did not manage to save the ship. While the crew struggled overnight by holding on to the side of the ship's hull which began to sink until waiting for help to arrive.

The joint SAR team from the Anambas Islands Regency consists of the Anambas SAR Post, Lanal Tarempa, the Anambas Islands Police Satpolairud, the Siantan Police, HNSI, RSUD, BPBD, and SROP Anambas who received the report immediately moved to the Likasi using RIB Basarnas at 07.50 WIB.

"Our team arrived at the location at 09.20 WIB. As soon as we saw the victim, we immediately evacuated," he said.

Parlindungan added that good coordination between Polairud and Basarnas personnel made the evacuation process for the five crew members of the Meranti Strait KM was successfully carried out.

All the victims were successfully evacuated safely. They were taken to Tarempa for medical treatment and medical examination at the Tarempa Hospital," said Parlindungan.

Separately, the Head of the Search and Rescue Office (KPP) or Basarnas Natuna Abdul Rahman appealed to all sea transportation users to increase their awareness of extreme weather conditions, especially in the period from October to the end of the year.

"October to the end of the year is a time to watch out for, because it enters the north season, where the potential for rain and strong winds often occur," said Abdul.