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