Joint SAR Team Expands Search for Three Victims of Biak Bomb Explosion

The joint Search and Rescue (SAR) team has expanded the search area for three people reported missing immediately after an explosion, suspected to be a leftover bomb from World War II, in Biak Numfor, Papua, on Sunday (31/5). The search for the victims is being conducted by a joint SAR team comprising various elements, including Basarnas and the Biak Numfor Police.

“The joint SAR team has expanded the search up to one mile from the crime scene,” stated the Head of Public Relations for the Papua Regional Police, Commissioner Cahyo Sukarnative, in Jayapura on Wednesday. As of the third day of searching, the joint SAR team has yet to find the bodies of the three missing individuals, identified as Yulianus Raubaba (26), Lae Madura (45), and Abis Marandof (27).

However, Cahyo noted that based on reports received, the search was expanded after the joint SAR team discovered fragments suspected to be human organs on Monday (1/6). These fragments were immediately transported and stored at the Biak Regional General Hospital (RSUD) mortuary to undergo identification by the Indonesian National Police’s Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team. “Identification is being carried out to determine the identity of the discovered organ fragments,” said Cahyo.

The explosion, suspected to be caused by a WWII-era bomb, occurred on Sunday (31/5) in the Fisheries Complex area, Fandoi Village, Biak City District, Biak Numfor Regency. The incident resulted in six deaths, three people reported missing, and damage to nine houses.