Joint SAR Team Expands Search for KM Nurul Salsa Victims
The joint Search and Rescue (SAR) team has expanded the search area for victims of the KM Nurul Salsa accident. The motor vessel sank in waters west of Polassi Island, Selayar Waters, Selayar Islands Regency, South Sulawesi, on Wednesday (15/7).
“We have again expanded the search area to 448 square nautical miles. All joint SAR elements are working optimally by dividing the search sectors to make the sweeping process more effective,” said Head of the Makassar Basarnas Office, Muhammad Arif Anwar, via a statement in Makassar on Saturday.
The fourth day of the SAR operation involves joint elements from Basarnas, the Indonesian Navy, the Indonesian Air Force, BPBD, Polair, the Harbourmaster, Selayar SAR Post, fishing boats, and various related agencies.
The search is conducted by dividing the operation area into two Search and Rescue Units (SRU). SRU 1 uses a fishing boat from the Sabalana Islands to sweep the first sector, covering 140 square nautical miles around the waters of Sabalana Island and Mataalang Island.
Meanwhile, SRU 2 uses the State Vessel (KN) SAR Kamajaya 104 to search the second sector, an area of 308 square nautical miles covering the waters from Mataalang Island to the Makassar Strait.
“We also continue to calculate weather factors, wind direction, and sea currents as the basis for determining the search area,” said Arif. “Basarnas, together with all joint SAR elements, continues to exert its best efforts to find the missing victims. Today, KN Pacitan from Kendari is also assisting the search. Please pray for us.”
Andi Sultan, Head of the Operations and Alert Section at Makassar Basarnas, added that on the fourth day of the SAR operation, Basarnas received additional fleet and personnel support from the Kendari and Maumere Basarnas Offices. The additional strength includes KN SAR Pacitan from the Kendari Basarnas Office with 28 personnel, and KN SAR Puntadewa from the Maumere Basarnas Office carrying 15 personnel. Both SAR vessels are deployed to strengthen the maritime elements in the search operation for the 25 victims who are still missing.
“This support will further strengthen our ability to conduct sweeping in the extensive search area. This support is expected to increase the effectiveness of the operation, especially considering the dynamics of sea currents, wind direction, and weather conditions in the Selayar Waters,” he said. In addition, evaluations are continuously carried out on the search pattern based on current movement data and meteorological conditions. With the support of the two SAR vessels and their personnel, the division of search sectors can be optimised so that every priority area can be reached maximally.
From today’s search report, the joint SAR team has still found nothing. The search is planned to continue on Sunday (19/7) morning by sweeping uninhabited empty islands around the Sabalana Island area. Additionally, the SAR operation has established three posts, namely the Makassar Post, Selayar Post, and Jampea Post, to serve as information centres.
Previously, the KM Nurul Salsa was known to have sailed from Jampea Island to Benteng Selayar Port on Wednesday (15/7) at around 05:00 WITA carrying 78 passengers. The vessel experienced engine trouble mid-journey in the waters west of Polassi Island, approximately 43 nautical miles from Benteng Selayar Port.