One Deckhand Missing in Rupat Strait, Dumai; SAR Team Conducts Search

Combined Search and Rescue (SAR) teams conducted a SAR operation for a deckhand (ABK) who is believed to have fallen from a pompong and sank in the waters of the Rupat Strait, Dumai City, on Tuesday, 19 May 2026. The head of the Pekanbaru A-class Search and Rescue Office, Budi Cahyadi, explained that the incident was reported on Tuesday, 19 May 2026 at 11:10 WIB by Serma Khadirin of Lanal Dumai. The pompong reportedly departed from Wilmar Pelintung Port for Pelindo Dumai Port at 01:00 WIB. However, upon arriving at Pelindo Dumai Port around 06:00 WIB, one onboard passenger was found missing and believed to have fallen into the water. ‘The victim is named Agustinus Laia (30), a resident of Tuhemberua, Lolomatua District, South Nias Regency,’ he said, on Wednesday (20/5). He explained that the incident location is in the Rupat Strait waters at coordinates approximately 1°39’44”N 101°33’27”E, about 6 nautical miles from Pelindo Dumai Port with a heading of 103 degrees. In follow-up to the report, at 11:30 WIB the Dumai Rescue Unit standby SAR team of 3 personnel together with Crew RB 218 of 3 personnel departed to the location using Skoci RB 218. ‘The joint SAR team conducted a search and sweep from Dumai Pokala Port to the estimated incident location according to the plan for day one, with the search area covering 6.88 nautical miles squared,’ said Budi Cahyadi. The search took place in clear to cloudy weather, wind from southeast to southwest, and wave heights ranging from 0.5 to 1.25 meters. By 18:00 WIB, the victim had not yet been found and the search was temporarily suspended. The SAR operation is planned to resume on Wednesday, 20 May 2026 at 07:00 WIB. ‘We also appeal to the victim’s family and to the public involved in the search to always prioritise safety while at sea,’ he concluded. (H-3)