Eighth Day: SAR Team Deploys Helicopter to Search for Four Passengers of KMP Putri Yasmin

Entering the eighth day of the extended search period on Wednesday (19/08), the SAR team deployed a helicopter and conducted sweeping operations in an effort to locate four passengers of KMP Putri Yasmin who were reported missing following the vessel’s fire incident in the Lombok Strait.

On this extension day, the Mataram SAR Office divided its operational forces into three Search and Rescue Units (SRU) employing land, sea, and air strategies.

Head of the Mataram SAR Office, Muhamad Hariyadi, serving as SAR Mission Coordinator (SMC), explained that the division of SRUs on the eighth day was specifically designed to maximise sweeping efforts at previously mapped points.

“On this eighth day, we have divided the operation into three SRUs so that the sweeping can be more focused,” said Hariyadi.

He detailed that SRU 1 conducted sweeping around small islands in the Sekotong area using a Rigid Buoyancy Boat (RBB).

SRU 2 carried out land and air monitoring using thermal drones in the Belongas, Buwun Mas, and Orong Bukal areas, while also sweeping the coastline from Kuta, Central Lombok, heading west.

Meanwhile, SRU 3 was deployed by air using a Finns SGi Air Bali helicopter from Bali to sweep the southern waters from Bali to Lombok, with personnel from the Denpasar SAR Office on board,” Hariyadi explained on Wednesday (19/8).

Hariyadi explained that in addition to deploying primary equipment in the field, his team continued to strengthen preventive and persuasive measures through cross-sectoral coordination.

“We are also continuing to optimise the dissemination of information to passing vessels in cooperation with VTS Lembar, as well as engaging fishermen and coastal residents to report immediately if they find any signs of the victims’ whereabouts,” Hariyadi stressed.

With the comprehensive tactical deployment on this eighth day, the joint SAR team hopes that all remaining victims can be found soon.