Basarnas Says Weather Hindered Evacuation of KMP Mutiara Sentosa II Victims

Surabaya (ANTARA) - Basarnas chief Mohammad Syafii said weather conditions in the waters off Sumenep, near the location of the KMP Mutiara Sentosa II fire, posed one of the challenges in evacuating victims.

“We know that at the time of the incident, weather conditions in the waters were far from good. That is why the evacuation process took time, but thank God, within a day all the victims present could be evacuated with the help of passing ships,” he said when contacted at Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya on Monday.

He stated that the victims who were found could still be evacuated thanks to the assistance of vessels near the scene of the incident.

He said Basarnas also made use of an application to help SAR vessels carry out the search pattern.

“That becomes input or consideration for determining the pattern of operations,” he said.

Basarnas assured that the search operation would continue until there was certainty based on data verification and official reports from all relevant parties.

“We hope that all the victims have been found, so that the search does not turn up any more victims,” he said.

The KMP Mutiara Sentosa II fire occurred in the waters north of Sumenep Regency on Sunday (2/8). The Ro-Ro passenger ferry, which serves the Surabaya–Makassar route, was reported to have caught fire at around 06:00–07:00 WIB whilst sailing in the waters north of Madura.