SAR Team Evacuates Victims of Helicopter Crash in Sekadau West Kalimantan

ANTARA/HO : Tim Pencari korban helikopter)

JAKARTA - A joint team consisting of Basarnas, TNI, police, and the community continues to carry out evacuation efforts for the victims of a helicopter belonging to PT Matthew Air with the registration number PK-CFX which had lost contact in the Nanga Taman District, Sekadau Regency, West Kalimantan.

"The evacuation effort is being carried out intensively by involving all existing SAR potential, even though it is faced with difficult terrain conditions and weather that can change, especially before nightfall," said one of the residents who joined the search team, Setfanus, through a WhatsApp message, Thursday, April 16. reported by ANTARA.

He said that local residents also played an active role in helping the search and moved towards the Bukit Puntak area after receiving information from residents regarding the sound of explosions.

"The team went to the location after there were reports from residents who heard explosions around Bukit Puntak," he said.

As a precautionary measure in the evacuation process, three ambulance units were alerted in RT Hulu Peniti, Dusun Gandis, Tapang Tingang Village to support the handling of victims if they are found.

The Airbus H130 type helicopter was previously reported missing after it was last monitored at 08.39 WIB while flying from Melawi to Kubu Raya. The report of the loss of contact was received at 10.40 WIB.

Following up on the report, the Pontianak Search and Rescue Office (Kansar) immediately deployed a rescue team from the Sintang SAR Post to the estimated location around Tapang Tingang Village. The team was also strengthened with support for special communication equipment and satellite devices to overcome network constraints in remote areas.

The search was carried out through land route clearance and aerial monitoring to speed up the evacuation process for the helicopter, which was known to carry eight people, consisting of two crew members and six passengers.

In the midst of the search process, a number of information circulated on social media regarding the alleged location of the helicopter crash or emergency landing news. However, the SAR party confirmed that the information could not be verified.

"Until now, there has been no visual or official communication from the crew that can confirm the condition of the helicopter," said the SAR officer on the ground.

Until this news was released, the condition of the passengers was still uncertain, and the evacuation process was still ongoing.