Joint SAR Team Expands Search Area for KMP Putri Yasmin Victims
The joint SAR team has expanded the search area for victims of the KMP Putri Yasmin passenger ferry fire in the waters of the Lombok Strait, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), on the third day of operations, Friday (14/8).
Head of the Mataram SAR Office, Muhamad Hariyadi, stated that based on the Operations Plan issued by the Mataram SAR Office, Friday’s search was expanded by deploying three main Search and Rescue Units covering the maritime sector and air routes.
‘The search on this third day involves a structured division of search areas to optimise the field sweep,’ he said on Friday.
The deployed teams consist of SRU 1 operating the KN SAR 220 Mataram and SRU 2 using the KAL Lembar for sea searches, while SRU 3 operates a Finns SGi Air Bali helicopter to conduct aerial monitoring and sweeping to extend the visual search range.
‘Entering the third day of the KMP Putri Yasmin SAR operation, we are deploying maximum strength through the division of three SRUs covering sea surface sweeps using ship fleets and aerial monitoring using the Finns SGi Air Bali helicopter,’ he explained.
This SAR operation involves close synergy from various related agencies, including the Mataram SAR Office and Denpasar SAR Office, Lanal Mataram, Finns SGi Air Bali crew, West Nusa Tenggara Regional Police Water Police Directorate, Lembar Port Authority, Lembar BKK, Lembar SROP, JRP, BPTB, Gapasdap, West Nusa Tenggara Police DVI Biddokkes, West Lombok Health Office, Tripat Regional Hospital, Mataram City Regional Hospital, West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Hospital, ASDP, and Jembatan Kembar Community Health Centre.
Meanwhile, field movement is supported by the deployment of comprehensive main equipment, including KN SAR 220 Mataram, RBB Mataram, RIB 02 Mataram, KN SAR Arjuna, RIB Nusa Penida, Finns SGi Air Bali Helicopter, KMP Portlink II, KMP Parama Kalyani, KAL Lembar, KP XXI - 2015 Police Boat, Yacht Still Here, Yacht No Comment, and an ambulance fleet from the West Nusa Tenggara Regional Hospital.
As of Thursday (13/8), a total of 212 victims had been evacuated, comprising 211 survivors and 1 fatality. The joint SAR team is now focusing the search on five passengers reported as still missing.