One of six missing divers found alive

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): An Indonesian diving guide missing for three days with five Japanese divers off Betang Island here was found alive yesterday, local police said.

Capt. Sjamsu Ridjal of the Bulukumba Police precinct said Zubair Ali, 30, was found by villagers on Kambuna Island in a critical condition and rushed to a community health center in nearby Sinjai.

"Meanwhile, the search for the five Japanese divers will continue," Ridjal said.

Zubair cannot be questioned about the incident or the events leading up to it because of his condition.

The five missing Japanese have been identified as Nobuhiko Matsumoto, 53, Mifuyu Kagomiya, 22, Reikko Okubo, 50, Hiroyuki Ishijima, 47, and Michie Yamamoto, 39.

The divers were reported missing Thursday afternoon when the captain of their rented boat became concerned and alerted police that the divers had failed to return on schedule.

Betang Island, in Bira Bay on the southern tip of South Sulawesi, is renowned for its diving and attracts divers worldwide.

According to Japan's junior consular general here, Takonai Susumu, it was "illogical" that the group could go missing as they were all professional divers.

The Japanese divers and Zubair were part of a group of 16 people on a diving trip to the bay, which was led by Habib Nadjar Buduha. There were three other Japanese among the group.

Habib agreed that the Japanese and Zubair were all experienced divers.

"They were well-equipped with emergency equipment such as air balloons and jackets which will bring them to surface in case of an accident."

He said the eight Japanese were actually here to photograph the bay for tourist promotion.

"They were not there to do research as some people have said.

"That was why (the Japanese) were accompanied by five other divers, a fisherman, and a bird-watcher, along with the reporter of a Japanese-language media organization in Malaysia."

Search and rescue workers comprising of the National Police, Navy and Hasanuddin University's nature-lovers club continued the search until late yesterday afternoon. (30/37)