Search effort extended for missing ferry passengers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Despite apparent hopelessness, the National
\nSearch and Rescue Agency decided on Thursday to extend for
\nanother week the search for the missing Cahaya Bahari ferry and
\nits hundreds of passengers fleeing strife-torn Tobelo district in
\nNorth Maluku.<\/p>\n
\"We decided to prolong the search on humanitarian grounds and
\nthe fact that only 11 victims out of hundreds of passengers have
\nbeen found so far,\" head of the Manado Port administration office
\nUdiyanto told The Jakarta Post by phone.<\/p>\n
The decision was taken in a meeting to evaluate the two-week
\nsearch for the overloaded vessel which sank in the waters off
\nSiau island of Sangihe Talaud regency in North Sulawesi on June
\n29.<\/p>\n
Director General of Sea Transportation Tjuk Sukardiman and
\nhead of the National Search and Rescue Agency Setyo Rahardjo
\nattended the meeting held at the North Sulawesi office of the
\nMinistry of Communications.<\/p>\n
\"If nothing comes up, we will terminate the effort on July
\n20,\" Udiyanto said.<\/p>\n
He said the meeting put the total number of the passengers at
\n561, following thorough cross-checks and reports from people who
\nclaimed to have lost family members in the accident, believed to
\nbe the worst in the country's history.<\/p>\n
Earlier reports said 492 passengers were on board when the
\nship sank.<\/p>\n
The search would be scaled down in the final week, involving
\nonly patrol and operational ships such as the KRI Multatuli and
\nKRI Sisingamangaraja warships which were currently concentrating
\non a sea blocking operation to prevent armed rioters from
\nentering the riot-torn Malukus, Udiyanto said.<\/p>\n
Previously, the operation involved 27 ships and seven
\naircraft, the biggest rescue effort in the country, according to
\nUdiyanto.<\/p>\n
He said the rescue workers had searched up to the Solomon
\nIslands but no sign of ship wreckage or victims were found.<\/p>\n
\"Theoretically, it is impossible for the victims to survive
\nfor such a long time,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Of the 11 passengers found, nine are being treated at Bitung
\nHospital for severe sunburn, one has been picked up by relatives
\nwhile the other, who remains unidentified, died shortly after the
\nrescue. (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/search-effort-extended-for-missing-ferry-passengers-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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