TANJUNGPINANG - The Tanjungpinang SAR Office is still looking for nine crew members (ABK) after the KM Makmur Jaya ship capsized in the waters of Merapas Island, Bintan Regency, Riau Islands.
Head of the Tanjungpinang SAR Office Fazzli said his party received information about the accident of the ship carrying 29 people on Sunday at around 21.05 WIB from a ship agent named Lago.
"The location of the incident was recorded at a distance of about 90 nautical miles from Sekupang Wharf, Batam," said Fazzli in his statement in Tanjungpinang, Antara, Sunday, March 8.
He explained the chronology of the incident began when the Makmur Jaya KM departed from Bugis Village to Pengibu Island on Saturday (7/3) at 14.00 WIB.
However, on Sunday morning at around 04.00 WIB, the ship was hit by high waves which caused the position of the ship to tilt until it finally overturned in the waters of Merapas Island.
In the emergency, 20 crew members survived on the upside down hull. Meanwhile, nine other crew members managed to get into the lifeboat, but were later separated from the main ship.
A total of 20 crew members who survived on the ship were rescued by a passing ship, namely the KM Sinar Abadi, at around 11.00 WIB.
"A total of 20 crew members who remained on the ship were immediately evacuated to Kijang Port, Bintan Regency, to be handed over to the ship's agent," said Fazzli.
He said that so far 20 victims had been declared safe and were still being questioned to find out information related to the incident.
Meanwhile, nine ABK who were in the lifeboat were still missing and in the search process.
Fazzli added that the Rescue team from the Batam SAR Post together with the crew of the KN SAR Purworejo 101, which numbered 22 personnel, had been dispatched to the location of the incident to conduct a search operation.
SAR operations also involved a number of joint elements, including the Kijang AL Post, East Bintan Police, Bintan BPBD, Bintan Polairud, and Berakit AL Post.
"The team is estimated to arrive at the search area on Monday (9/3) at 06.30 WIB to immediately conduct an intensive search," said Fazzli.
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