Natuna SAR team rescues four crew from leaking vessel off Serasan

Natuna (ANTARA) - A joint Search and Rescue (SAR) team in Natuna Regency, Riau Islands Province, has rescued four crew members from a leaking vessel in the waters off Serasan Island, one of Indonesia’s outermost islands. Head of the Natuna Search and Rescue Office (KPP/SAR) Abdul Rahman confirmed from Natuna on Friday, saying the evacuation process was conducted on Thursday (5/3), at around 23:40 Western Indonesian Time (WIB), after the authorities received reports from residents regarding the incident. Due to the considerable distance to the scene, the SAR team could only reach the location in the early hours of Friday. He explained that the Indonesian-flagged fishing vessel was named Kapal Layar Motor Putra Kelana (KLM Putra Kelana). Putra Kelana departed from Kalimantan bound for Serasan. However, upon arriving near the Serasan waters, the vessel developed a leak, prompting the crew to seek assistance. In addition to evacuating the four crew, the SAR team also managed to recover some items from the vessel. The evacuation proceeded smoothly, thanks to cooperation and coordination among various parties involved. “The team arrived at Serasan Island at around 02:50 WIB and all victims were safe,” he said. The Natuna SAR Office noted that during the evacuation, the weather in the area was cloudy, with waves of about one to 1.1 metres. The air temperature ranged from 27 to 28 degrees Celsius, wind speeds of 10 to 12 knots with winds from the north. “All the victims and the joint SAR team are safe and have returned to their respective units after the operation was completed,” he added.