The Dive Team Of West Papua's Koarmada III Dives To Help Search For Victims Of The Sinking Ship In North Maluku

A joint team of divers when evacuating victims of the KMP Cahaya Arafat drowning in the waters of Tokaka Village, South Halmahera Regency, North Maluku (Antara/HO- Dispen Fleet Command III)

SORONG - The III Fleet Command Main Base in Sorong, West Papua deployed a warship to help search for victims of the Cahaya Arafah Passenger Motor Ship (KMP) which sank on July 18, 2022 in the waters of South Halmahera, North Maluku.

"The Commander of the Fleet Command (Pangkoarmada) III, Rear Admiral TNI Irvansyah ordered elements of the Koarmada III Warship and the Ternate Naval Base to immediately carry out the search and rescue of the ship's victims," said Kadispen Koarmada III Marine Colonel (KH) R Doni Kundrat in Sorong reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, July 20.

He said the Navy ships sent to assist Basarnas in conducting the search were KRI Layar-854, KRI Tatihu-853, and KAL Tidore III-14-11.

"Not only ships, the Navy also dispatched a team of divers to join the Basarnas, Police, KUPP, and divers from the Sali Island community to search for victims," he said.

Doni explained that on July 20, 2022, at around 11.44 WIT, the dive team of the Lanal Ternate Navy base, which was joined by a joint dive team in an effort to find victims of the sinking of KMP Cahaya Arafah in the waters of Tokaka Village, South Halmahera Regency, North Maluku, managed to find the location of the sinking ship.

The first victim, identified as a female, was found dead at a depth of 45 meters. The victim was evacuated to KN SAR 237 Pandudewanata and immediately taken to the Aju Command Post in Tokaka Village.

At around 12.55 WIT, the joint SAR team of divers again managed to find two adult female victims and one male victim at a depth of 45 meters in a dead condition.

"The search continues and the total number of victims who have been found as of 13.00 WIT is four people," he said.

Search efforts by the Joint Team continue to be carried out to find other victims who are suspected of being trapped in the hull of the ship on the seabed.