High Waves Leave Two Fishermen Missing off Pacitan

Pacitan, East Java (ANTARA) — A joint search and rescue team is looking for two fishermen from Pacitan Regency, East Java, who were reported missing while returning to the Tawang Fish Auction Site (TPI) on Monday (12 October) night. Their boat was found near the waters off Watu Murep Beach.

The fishermen, Mislan, 68, and Budianto, 65, are residents of Jetak village in Tulakan district. They had not been found by Tuesday.

The joint team is searching from land and scouring the sea, taking wave conditions into account.

Muhammad Jazuli Prasetyo, head of the Trenggalek Search and Rescue Team, said it received a report of the incident on Tuesday morning and immediately headed to the area to search.

Jazuli said he suspected the fishermen had struggled to find their way back because of the conditions at sea after dark. Relatively high waves may also have contributed to the incident.

The Trenggalek SAR team has deployed five personnel and is co-ordinating with relevant agencies and local fishermen.

The joint team includes Pacitan Regency’s Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Pacitan Police, elements of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and local fishermen.

“We have not been able to conduct a full search at sea because the waves are quite high. We are also working to maximise the search from land,” he said.

As of Tuesday, the joint team was still trying to find the two fishermen.

He said the sea search would take account of changing weather and wave conditions to ensure the safety of personnel on duty.