Joint SAR Team Searches For 8 Speedboat Passengers Who Sank In SBT Maluku

PHOTO VIA BETWEEN

AMBON - The joint SAR team is still conducting search operations for eight of the 13 speedboat passengers that sank between the waters of Baam Island and Teor Island, East Seram Regency (SBT), Maluku.

"Today we are continuing our fifth day of SAR operations to search for victims and the SAR team is divided into three SRUs to expand search locations," said Head of the Ambon Basarnas Search and Rescue Office, Mustari in Ambon, quoted by Antara, Monday, March 28.

According to him, the Ambon Basarnas has also coordinated with the Timika Basarnas to file information about this accident in order to later carry out search and rescue operations if the search area enters their work area.

Initially, the search for the victims was carried out by the joint SAR team after receiving a report from Sayuti, a Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) officer of SBT Regency on March 23 at around 16.00 p.m. local time, the speed boat carrying 13 passengers sank between the waters of Baam Island and Teor Island.

The survivors that have been found are Husein Keliobas (community) who managed to swim for hours to land, then Camat Teor Indah Adhayati Rumakway, Uya Kilkoda, and Gusti Pattikupang (Bappeda staff) SBT Regency, and Idrus Retob (community).

The three Inspectorate employees who are still being searched are Rinto, Ismail Hatala, and Ibrahim Kilwouw and one Bappeda staff member on behalf of Fajrin plus four other residents namely Jafar Rumatiga, Saida Keliobas, three-year-old Hairudin, and Samsia Rumodar.

During the SAR operation on the fourth day of Sunday (27/3), which was carried out from morning to evening, there were no signs of the presence of eight of the 13 speedboat passengers.

"The distribution of three SRUs is still being carried out in order to expand the search area on the fourth day of SAR operations. Acting as SRU 1, KN SAR Abimanyu and the rescue team from the Banda SAR post are moving towards the south of the search location at coordinates 5° 15' 56" S - 132° 48' 16" E, and a distance of approximately 133 Nautcal Miles," explained Mustari.