The planned underwater search and rescue (SAR) operation for the 129\npassengers missing after the sinking of KM Virgo Transport 8 in the\nMasalembo waters of the Java Sea was postponed again on the third day,\nTuesday (15\/9), due to bad weather. The SAR team has been reinforced to\n1,000 personnel.<\/p>\n
Head of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), Air Marshal\nMohammad Syafii, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday (15\/9)\nevening at the Trisakti Port command post in Banjarmasin, said the poor\nweather conditions made it impossible for the SAR team to search for\nvictims underwater.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bad weather at sea means the planned underwater SAR activities\ncannot be carried out. However, we are continuing to intensify SAR\nefforts on the sea surface,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He expressed hope that conditions would improve on the fourth day so\nthat the underwater search could proceed and the victims be found. The\ndiving teams from Kopaska \u2014 the Navy\u2019s specialist diving unit \u2014 the\nBasarnas dive team, and the KRI Kanopus, equipped with advanced devices\nsuch as underwater drones, a multibeam echo sounder and a Remote\nOperated Vehicle (ROV), had already been placed on standby.<\/p>\n
Syafii explained that his team was continuing to intensify surface\nsearches by adding vessels and personnel to the joint SAR team. The\nagency deployed 17 ships and six air SAR units, comprising three\nhelicopters and three patrol aircraft.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe joint SAR team has now grown from 622 personnel to 1,000,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Deputy Governor of South Kalimantan, Hasnuryadi Sulaiman,\nmonitored the handling and care of the victims\u2019 families at the Basarnas\npost and the passenger terminal at Trisakti Port, Banjarmasin. The\nDeputy Governor took time to speak with victims\u2019 families as well as SAR\nofficers and volunteers.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn behalf of the South Kalimantan provincial government, we convey\nour condolences and hope the SAR operation succeeds in finding the\nvictims alive. The regional government will provide its full support so\nthat the SAR process runs smoothly,\u201d said Hasnuryadi, who also\ndistributed food and drink aid packages to the victims\u2019 families and the\nSAR team.<\/p>\n
The passenger ro-ro vessel KM Virgo Transport 8 listed and lost\ncontact in the Masalembo waters of the Java Sea on Sunday (13\/9) at\naround 02.00 local time. Strong sea currents have caused the capsized\nvessel to drift up to 1.6 nautical miles from its original position.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bad-weather-delays-underwater-search-for-129-missing-from-km-virgo-transport-8-yet-again-1789491071", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }