Five missing as cargo ship sinks in Sumbawa waters<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Mataram\/Kupang\/Surabaya<\/p>\n
A rescue team was searching on Tuesday for at least five people
\nstill missing after a cargo ship capsized in the waters off the
\neastern island of Sumbawa in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province.<\/p>\n
Fourteen victims survived the accident that occurred on Friday
\nin bad weather, rescuers in the NTB capital of Mataram said on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
The KM Atmoro I capsized at about 8 p.m. near Moyo island. The
\nship was sailing from the East Java capital of Surabaya to
\nWangaipu, East Nusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
It left Surabaya at about 10 a.m. on Thursday carrying cargo
\nthat included two cars and a truck, and a range of merchandise.<\/p>\n
The ship was manned by at least 19 crew members, including the
\ncaptain, who was among the survivors, said Mataram Search and
\nRescue Agency head Ida Bagus Gde Budisma.<\/p>\n
Officials at the Surabaya port said that in addition to the 19
\ncrew members, the ship was also carrying 30 passengers when it
\nleft the port. However, this was denied by Budisma.<\/p>\n
He quoted the captain, identified as Anthon, as saying the
\nship capsized after being struck by strong waves in waters off
\nSumbawa.<\/p>\n
Budisma said five of the survivors were rescued by another
\ncargo ship traveling from Waingapu to Surabaya. The survivors
\nwere taken to a hospital in Surabaya for treatment.<\/p>\n
Eight other survivors picked up by the rescue team were later
\ntransferred to Surabaya by car, in coordination with the operator
\nof the Atmoro I.<\/p>\n
Another survivor, identified as Petrus Nongo from Sumba, was
\nfound by fishermen in the waters near Belanting village north of
\nLombok island, after spending three days and nights in the sea.<\/p>\n
He is currently receiving medical treatment at the Selong
\nGeneral Hospital in East Lombok.<\/p>\n
Budisma could not say why information on the accident was only
\nreceived on Sunday. It may have been because the ship's radio was
\nnot working.<\/p>\n
He said the search was continuing for the five missing crew
\nmembers four days after the accident.<\/p>\n
\"Because the location of the accident is within our domain, it
\nis the obligation of the Mataram rescue agency to continue the
\nsearch mission,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The rescue agency dispatched a speedboat belonging to the
\nlocal water police to Moyo island from Kayangan Port in East
\nLombok, carrying a five-member search team.<\/p>\n
Naval and police boats are also involved in the search for the
\nmissing victims.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of people in the town of Waingapu have gathered at
\nthe local office of PT Surya Timur Sejahtera, which operates the
\nAtmoro I, to try and learn the fate of loved ones who may have
\nbeen aboard the ship.<\/p>\n
\"I do not know whether my son-in-law and two brothers who were
\non board the ship survived. I have called relatives in Surabaya
\nto try and learn their whereabouts, but they said my brothers
\nleft for Waingapu on board a KM Artomoro ship on Thursday,\" said
\nAbdul Rauf.<\/p>\n
Shipping accidents are common here, in large part because
\nsafety regulations are poorly enforced and boats are frequently
\novercrowded.<\/p>\n
Last February, at least four people were killed when a cargo
\nship sank in the waters off Flores island in East Nusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
Earlier in January, at least 15 people went missing and were
\npossibly trapped under a ship that capsized in waters off Taliabu
\nisland in North Maluku province.<\/p>\n
In March, searchers found a missing ship that was reported
\nmissing in the Banda Sea off Southeast Sulawesi province and
\nrescued all 52 people aboard, including eight crew members.<\/p>\n
The KM Untung Jaya, which also carried tons of freight, sank
\nin bad weather when it was sailing from Taliabo port in North
\nMaluku to Wangi-Wangi.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/five-missing-as-cargo-ship-sinks-in-sumbawa-waters-1447893297",
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