Navy continues search operation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Navy is continuing the search for possible
\nsurvivors from the ferry which sank off Aceh on Friday, although
\nofficials admitted that the likelihood of finding anyone alive
\nafter four days is slim.<\/p>\n
By yesterday 52 people were found dead, 40 rescued and at
\nleast 118 were missing. First reports said that there were 210,
\nincluding 16 crewmen, on board the Gurita when it sank on its way
\nfrom Kreungraya in Aceh to Balohan on Weh Island. The actual
\nnumber may be higher because some people were not on the
\npassengers' list.<\/p>\n
\"It's a remote possibility that there are still survivors out
\nthere,\" Lt. Col. Fikri Samaf Guciano, chief of the Sabang's Naval
\nBase, told The Jakarta Post by phone. \"But we'll also be looking
\nfor bodies trapped in the ship. Some of these bodies may float up
\nlater,\" Fikri said.<\/p>\n
\"We just found one tonight, a male. His body was already
\ndecomposing. We took the body to Banda Aceh,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Officials earlier said that some of them may have been trapped
\ninside their cars or in buses. The ferry was carrying 30 vehicles
\nas well as cargo when it sank.<\/p>\n
Fikri said the Navy's divers could not reach the ship's
\nwreckage which is lying some 384 meter underwater. The divers
\nhave equipment which can only take them down 70 meters.<\/p>\n
Sabang Mayor Bustari was also hoping to find more survivors,
\nsaying that some may have been washed ashore on one of the many
\nsmall islands scattered around the northern tip of Sumatra.<\/p>\n
Fikri, who is coordinating the search operation, said the
\nstandard procedure in Search and Rescue operations is that the
\nsearch should be held for seven days. \"But if we have to, we can
\nextend the operation.\"<\/p>\n
The Navy has deployed four warships in the operation: KRI
\nFatahillah, KRI Rencong, KRI Yohanes and KRI Sleman.<\/p>\n
In addition, hundreds of small fishing boats also joined in
\nthe operation since Friday, scouring the waters off Aceh and
\naround the Weh Island.<\/p>\n
Fikri said that a team of investigators is now being formed,
\non instruction from the Minister of Transportation Haryanto
\nDhanutirto. \"I expect to be included in that team,\" he said,
\nadding that an announcement is expected later today.<\/p>\n
On the possible causes of the accident, he said that he heard
\nseveral explanations. A big wave was blamed by some, while others
\nsuggested the ferry had hit a rock. \"The site of the accident is
\na meeting point of several currents. When the wave hit the ship,
\nsome of its cargo may have shifted and this is probably what
\ncaused it.\" (31\/emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/navy-continues-search-operation-1447893297",
"image": ""
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