Three teenagers who drowned while fishing were successfully evacuated by the SAR team.

Illustration of the SAR team (ANTARA)

KENDARI - A joint SAR team evacuated three teenagers who were reported missing while fishing around the waters of Onehe Village, Tanggetada District, Kolaka Regency, Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra).

Head of Basarnas Kendari Amiruddin, said the three teenagers named Sofyan (12), Damar (12), and Salwa 11), were found after a search by the SAR Team for about two hours or precisely on Tuesday (13/1) at 22.50 Wita.

"The victims were found about 760 meters from their last estimated location in a safe condition," said Amiruddin, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, January 14.

After being found, he said, the three victims were immediately taken to the victim's family home to be handed over to the family.

With the evacuation of the three victims in a safe state, he continued, the SAR operation for a boat accident against a boat with three people who were adrift while fishing in Kolaka waters was declared complete and closed.

"All elements involved in the search are returned to their respective units," he said.

The elements involved in the search include the Basarnas Kendari Ops Staff, Kolaka SAR Post, Kolaka Police Polair, Watubangga Police, Kolaka USN SAR, the surrounding community, and the victim's family.

Amiruddin revealed that several main tools were used in the search for the three victims, namely a rescue car, rubber boat, aqua eye, medical SAR equipment, evacuation SAR equipment, communication equipment, and other safety support equipment.

Amiruddin also said that the accident started when the three teenagers went fishing using a sampan around the waters of Onehe Village, on Tuesday (13/1) at 13.00 Wita. At 15.00 Wita, the three victims were seen in a position that had moved away from the beach.

"However, until the afternoon they had not returned, so a search was carried out by the local community and the family, but they were not found," said Amiruddin.