High Waves Hinder The Search For 4 Crew Members Of KM Intan Fortuna On Buru Island, Maluku

Search efforts for the four KM crew. Intan Fortuna has not been able to be carried out by Basarnas with the Polairud Polres of Buru Island to the maximum due to high sea waves, Tuesday (13/7/2022). ANTARA/Kasatpolairud of the Buru Police

AMBON - Extreme weather with strong winds accompanied by rain and high waves is still an obstacle to the search for the 4 crew members of KM Intan Fortuna by the joint SAR team with the Buru Island Police Satpolairud, Maluku.

"For now, we and Basarnas have not been able to search for the four crew members of KM Intan Fortuna who are still missing due to high waves," said Head of the Buru Island Police Headquarters Ipda Jefry Manuhua as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, July 13.

According to him, the search operation cannot be carried out optimally but the Buru Police have coordinated with the Bhabinkamtibmas ranks at the coastal police stations to inform if any fishermen or the public have seen or found them so that they can be submitted so that further steps can be taken.

The four crew members who have not been found are Rama, Jufri Lewalu, Yongki, and Andreas Fangedae.

Meanwhile, the other 12 crew members, including Sarifin Salam as the captain, were allowed to leave RSUD dr. Salim Alkatiri Namrole, South Buru Regency after three days of medical treatment.

KM. Intan Fortuna is a type of vessel with a capacity of 287 GT and carries 16 crew and departs from Muara Baru to Dobo, Aru Islands Regency on May 25, 2022 at 18:00 WIB with a cargo of fish.

Then on June 25, 2022 at 22.00 WIT, the ship departed from the Aru Islands to Muara Baru, then on June 27, 2022 at 02.00 WIT the ship was hit by storms and waves, causing the ship to capsize in the Maru Islands.

"On July 9, 2022 at 02.00 wit 12 crew members of the ship were found floating by the fishermen of the First Village of South Buru on behalf of La Oti Sampulawa in good condition," explained Kasatpolairud.

Furthermore, the 12 crew members were evacuated to Lektama Village and given treatment at the Namrole Regional Hospital, while the other four crew members were separated and their fates are not yet known.