Two Fishermen Reportedly Drowning In East Flores Waters Found Safe

The SAR team evacuates two fishermen from East Flores who were reported missing for 12 hours/ Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - During the 12 hours reported drowning, two fishermen in the waters of East Flores were found safe. This was conveyed by the Maumere Search and Rescue Office, Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province.

"Both of them have been found safe after it was reported that a ship had sunk for 12 hours", said Head of the Maumere Search and Rescue Office, I Putu Sudayana, quoted from Antara, Monday, February 28.

Previously, one unit of aid ship from the Marine and Fisheries Service of NTT for the people of Sikka Regency sank in the waters of Tanjung Bunga, East Flores.

The ship sank when the ship was sailing from Kupang to Larantuka City, East Flores Regency. However, it was blocked by high waves so the ship sank and two crew members (ABK) were reported missing.

The location of the disappearance and sinking of the ship is estimated at the coordinates of 08°09'47.69" south latitude (LS) - 122°45'44.26" east latitude (LT) with a radius of 51.60° and a distance of 44 NM from Wuring Maumere Harbor.

He explained that in the search process his party was divided into two teams, namely a joint team led by the police and a joint team from the Maumere SAR.

During the search process, the SAR team received a report that a man named Kadir Abdullah was found in the waters of Permaan Beach, safe but weak.

At the same time, his party received a report that a victim named John Manase was also found hungry and weak on the beach of Nusa Nipa and was safe.

"Currently the two fishermen have met with their colleagues in Larantuka", he said.

With the discovery of the two fishermen, said I Putu, the SAR operation to search for missing persons was closed.

He expressed his gratitude to several parties starting from Maumere Naval base, Maumere Water and Air Police, East Flores Regional Disaster Management Agency, East Flores Police, and Tanjung Bunga Police.