Ship Engine Dies, 8 Passengers Drift In Suanggi Waters, Maluku Found Safe

A longboat with eight passengers and engine failure at sea was successfully evacuated by the SAR team, Thursday (31/3/2023). (ANTARA)

AMBON - Rescue team from the Namlea SAR Post Coordinator, Buru Regency rescued eight longboat passengers who had engine failures and were swept away around the waters of Suanggi Island, West Seram Regency, Maluku.

"The joint SAR team was immediately deployed to search for victims after the Namlea SAR Post received a report from residents on Thursday, March 30 at 14:30 WIT," said Head of the Ambon Basarnas Search and Rescue Office, Mustari in Ambon, Friday.

According to him, a resident of the complainant named Ny. Yam explained that eight siblings departed from Manipa Island, SBB Regency on Thursday at around 05.00 WIT to Namlea City, Buru Regency.

However, when he arrived around Suanggi Island at around 07.09 WIT, the longboat suffered engine failure and was unable to continue the journey.

Pos SAR Namlea merespon cepat laporan laka laut tersebut dengan mengerahkan unsur potensi SAR gabungan menuju lokasi kejadian guna melaksanakan operasi SAR.

"The team using a speedboat belonging to the Buru District Health Office moved to the waters of Suanggi Island with a distance of approximately 10.66 Nm, Heading 118.59 degrees southeast of the Namlea SAR Post," explained Mustari.

Two hours of searching, at around 16.30 WIT, the ill-fated longboat was found around the eastern waters of Buru Island.

Furthermore, all the victims who brought many durian fruit to be sold to Buru Island were successfully evacuated safely and taken to Namlea City.

Those rescued by the joint SAR team were Amir Mahu (70), Umar Mahu (40), Isra Mahu (40), Rasid Mahu (27), Randi Mahu (19), Nandar Mahu (17), Anas Mahu (16) and Kalsum Wael (40).