Police Deploy Two Helicopters to Search for Victims of KMP Mutiara Sentosa Fire

East Java Regional Police (Polda Jawa Timur) and the Maritime Police Headquarters have deployed two helicopters to assist in the search for victims of the KMP Mutiara Sentosa II fire in waters north of Sumenep Regency, Madura.

East Java Police Chief Inspector General Nanang Avianto said the helicopters were deployed to sweep the incident site so that the search for victims could be carried out quickly.

“Yes, we have them — yesterday Headquarters also provided support. We have one helicopter from the Regional Police and one from Maritime Police Headquarters. Both are helping our colleagues carry out search operations. Hopefully everyone can be saved,” Nanang said.

He made the remarks during a visit to victims of the KMP Mutiara Sentosa II fire at the emergency post at Gapura Surya Nusantara, Tanjung Perak Port, Surabaya, on Monday (3/8).

Nanang said the current priority is to rescue victims who remain at the incident site or are on their way to the mainland.

“That is why we are focusing on rescuing the victims. We are concentrating on the rescue efforts first,” he said.

Nanang said police were coordinating with the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the Indonesian Navy, and all stakeholders involved in maritime rescue.

“So from the start we said — our main task, together with colleagues from Basarnas, the Navy, and all stakeholders involved in maritime rescue — is to carry out the same activity, namely rescuing the victims first. That is what matters, and the evacuation process is still ongoing,” he said.

He added that victims found dead were immediately undergoing the ante mortem process by the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team of the East Java Regional Police in order to identify the victims.

“For those who have died, the DVI team from the Regional Police is carrying out ante mortem procedures to identify them. Meanwhile, the others are still en route. So for now, let us concentrate on the rescue operation first,” he said.

He said a number of survivors have now gathered at the handling post, whilst police officers remain on standby in the field to monitor the evacuation of victims still travelling to shore.

“As for the survivors, we can see our colleagues gathering here now. Those still on their way are travelling, and our personnel are still on duty there. So we continue to monitor and rotate our members in the field, concentrating on carrying out all their duties,” he said.

Regarding the exact location of the aerial search, he said he had not yet received a report because the team on duty was still in the air.

“I have not yet been in contact. They are still in transit up there. We will be updated once they have something,” he said.

Nanang estimated the search process would take a maximum of three days, with the possibility of updated data if additional victims are found.

“Three days. We shall see — we will update if there are more victims,” he said.

The passenger ferry KMP Mutiara Sentosa II was reported to have caught fire in waters north of Sumenep, Madura, on Sunday (2/8). The vessel, on the Surabaya–Makassar route, was carrying around 250 passengers when the incident occurred.

The initial report of the fire was received by duty officers at the Surabaya SAR Office from the Tanjung Perak Harbour Master at 08:24 WIB. A minute later, PT Atosim Lampung Pelayaran, the ship’s operator, also confirmed the incident to duty officers.

According to information obtained from the shipping company, the captain had reported a fire at the northern tip of Madura at around 06:00 to 07:00 WIB. Communication with the captain was subsequently cut off and could not be re-established.

The SAR team immediately took a series of coordination steps upon receiving the information. At 08:30 WIB, the Surabaya SAR Office coordinated with the Tanjung Perak Harbour Master to confirm the ship’s last position. Coordination continued at 09:00 WIB between the Sumenep SAR Post and the Kalianget Coastal Radio Station (SROP).

Communication between the SROP and the vessel Meratus Project 3, which was near the incident site, confirmed at 09:45 WIB that KMP Mutiara Sentosa II was located 19 nautical miles north of Buruan Island, Sapudi.

“The ship was almost completely burnt out, and the passengers were gathered at the bridge and the bow,” the report stated.

As of 08:40 WIB on Monday (3/8), a total of 234 people aboard KMP Mutiara Sentosa II had been accounted for. Of these, 229 were found alive, whilst five were found dead.